Oil spilled from two wrecked tankers has reached the shores of the southern Krasnodar region in Russia. Governor Veniamin Kondratiev declared a regionwide emergency to deal with the pollution appearing in the Anapa and Temryuk districts, according to Reuters.
"Initially, according to the calculations of scientists and specialists, the main mass of fuel oil should have remained at the bottom of the Black Sea, which would have allowed it to be collected in the water," Kondratiev posted via Telegram, per Reuters. "But the weather dictates its own conditions, the air warms up, and oil products rise to the top. As a result, they are being carried to our beaches."
What happened?
Two Russian oil tankers were damaged because of storm conditions in the Kerch Strait, off the eastern coast of the Crimean peninsula. The bow of one broke off, and the other was beached nearby.
Experts suggested that the Soviet-era vessels were too old to be in service and otherwise were unfit for stormy weather.
Approximately 9,200 tons of oil product was being carried in the two ships, with an estimated 3,700 tons being spilled, according to the Associated Press. One sailor aboard the Volgoneft-212 died because of the incident.
Why are oil spills harmful?
Marine oil spills are disastrous for local wildlife, which in turn works its way through the food chain to humans. A study has shown that an improperly cleaned spill produces an increased risk of toxic exposure to humans long afterward. In the immediate aftermath, communities can be cut off from their only source of drinking water.
The biodiversity risks are staggering. Coastal birds and coral ecosystems are directly in the line of fire when it comes to oil spills at sea.
What's being done about the Krasnodar oil spill?
Over 10,000 people have been helping to clean up the Krasnodar spill, per Reuters, but the effects are ongoing. The majority of the 2,400 tons spilled by the Volgoneft-239 is reported to have been contained, per Russian news agency Tass.
According to Reuters, it's likely that these ships were operating without adhering to maritime standards.
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All the time 💯 If these standards were more stringently enforced, costly disasters can be avoided. Both captains were charged with crimes, according to a Russian media source (viewed in translation).
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