The recent oil spill in the Black Sea, caused by the sinking of two Russian tankers, has resulted in a significant ecological disaster, affecting a long stretch of sandy beaches along the coastline. This incident is being described as one of the worst environmental crises in the region in years.
Around 4,000 volunteers have been cleaning beaches near the resort city of Anapa from the spill from two tankers, which were damaged by a storm on Sunday, according to local task force.
On December 15, 2024, severe storms damaged two aging oil tankers named Volgoneft-212 and Volgoneft-239, in the Kerch Strait.
The Volgoneft-212 reportedly split in half, while the Volgoneft-239 ran aground, leading to an estimated spill of 3,000 to 3,700 metric tons of mazut, a heavy fuel oil.
The tankers were each carrying around 4,200 tons of oil when they encountered distress due to winds reaching up to 45 mph (70 kph).
The vessels were in the Kerch Strait between mainland Russia and Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014, when they issued distress signals.
TASS news agency said on Tuesday a third tanker had issued a distress signal but its hull was still intact, there was no oil spillage and the crew was safe.
As reported, one crew member from the Volgoneft-212 lost their life during the incident, while 26 others were rescued from both tankers. Russian authorities have initiated investigations into potential criminal negligence surrounding the incident due to the age of the vessels involved, which are reported to be over 50 years old.
The oil spill has contaminated approximately 49 kilometers (30 miles) of coastline near the resort city of Anapa, polluting both air and water and posing a serious threat to local wildlife.
Reports indicate that numerous birds have been found struggling in oil-covered environments, with videos showing them floundering helplessly on the beaches.
The governor of Krasnodar Krai confirmed that the spill has affected several villages along the coast, prompting local authorities to declare a state of emergency.
In response to the disaster, around 4,000 volunteers have mobilized to assist with cleanup operations along the affected beaches. The emergency management ministry has organized a coordinated effort involving over 267 specialists and heavy equipment to tackle the extensive contamination.
This oil spill represents a critical environmental challenge for the Black Sea region. The immediate focus remains on cleanup and mitigating further ecological damage while assessing the long-term impacts on local marine life and ecosystems.