UAE Beaches Close After Tanker Strike Unleashes 35km Oil Slick
Authorities closed beaches near Umm Al Quwain as oil from the Gem No. 2 tanker washed ashore.
By Hassan Lawson ·
The Strait of Hormuz has seen a spike in ship attacks this month, and one such strike is now affecting the coastline of the United Arab Emirates. Oil from a damaged tanker has reached the shore, forcing the closure of public beaches.
Satellite imagery from Monday identified the vessel as the crude oil tanker Gem No. 2. By Wednesday, images showed a slick stretching more than 35 kilometers from the ship's location. A smaller leak was visible on October 19, but radar data from MAIAR and BBC Verify confirmed the spill grew rapidly over the next two days.
On Thursday, UAE officials stated that beaches near Umm Al Quwain were affected. The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment said it began containment operations immediately to limit environmental impacts. Video verified on Friday showed black oil covering the water and washing onto the sand.
Prof Steve Widdicombe, director of the Sharjah Marine Science Research Centre, told BBC Verify that an impact was inevitable. However, he noted it is too early to determine the severity of the damage. The extent of the harm depends on the volume and type of oil, the rate of evaporation, and the effectiveness of the cleanup efforts.
Marine life faces immediate threats from spills, including trapped turtles and smothered seabirds. Prof Widdicombe warned that long-term exposure to toxic compounds could also affect species reproduction. The slick is moving toward Siniyah and Khor Al Beidah islands, a Key Biodiversity Area home to corals, seagrasses, green turtles, and the critically endangered Halavi guitarfish.
Eoghan Darbyshire, a scientist at the Conflict and Environment Observatory, identified the proximity to this biodiversity hotspot as the most concerning environmental angle. Vanguard, a maritime intelligence firm, reported that the Panama-flagged Gem No. 2 was struck by an unknown projectile on October 9. The ship was north of Al Jazeera Al Hamra when the impact started a fire. Iranian state media said the vessel was trying to leave the strait via an unauthorized route.
The Indian consulate in Dubai confirmed on October 11 that all 22 Indian crew members had been rescued. Security experts told BBC Verify the strikes are part of an Iranian effort to assert control over the waterway in response to US military escorts. This incident follows a similar spill in August that reached Iran's Qeshm Island.
Source: BBC News
