A tanker named Caroline Bezengi, grounded off the coast of Oman near a marine protected area, is leaking crude oil, as shown by satellite images. The oil spill, covering about 20 square kilometers, is affecting the shores of Dhofar’s Qibliyah Island. Environmental expert Wim Zwijnenburg noted that the oil is gradually leaking, with the risk of the ship breaking due to rough seas during the monsoon season. The tanker, carrying over 800,000 barrels of crude oil, is sanctioned by several countries for transporting Russian oil. It has been stranded since June after an explosion was reported on board. The spill is damaging the local marine ecosystem, highlighting the environmental risks of Russia’s shadow fleet.
QUESTION: How might the ongoing oil spill impact the local communities and wildlife in the affected area?
Oil leak spreads from a sanctioned tanker grounded off Oman, images show
