Occupants in Crimea declared a state of emergency: what is the reason.

Pollution with fuel oil on the coast near Sevastopol

The coast near Sevastopol has been contaminated with fuel oil following the accident of two Russian tankers in the Kerch Strait. The head of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhayev, declared a state of emergency.

The fuel oil stain was initially discovered at sea and in the village of Yakovenkove on the southeastern coast of Crimea. On Saturday, January 4, fuel oil reached Yalta and Sevastopol. A spill of fuel oil covering an area of 100 square meters was discovered on the beach 'Zoryany Bereh'. Fuel oil also reached the beaches of 'Blakytnaya Bukhta' and 'Nakhimovets'. Oil stains were found in Kozacha Bay, Kachi, Orlivka, Balaklava, on Sribniy beach, Victory Park, and in Fiolent.

Observers from the Telegram channel 'Crimean Wind' created a map of the fuel oil pollution.

The authorities of the Black Sea Peninsula reported that other parts of the coast of Sevastopol may also be contaminated, as there are not always access points to the sea, and the rest of the areas are not visited by anyone during winter.

Wind strengthening may wash pollution back to the shore

According to the Crimean Hydrometeorological and Environmental Monitoring Service, on January 4, an intensification of the southwest wind is expected in Crimea at 17-22 m/s. This may cause the fuel oil stain to wash back to the shore.

During the storm on December 15 in the Kerch Strait, tankers had an accident, leading to fuel oil spillage. Pollution spread over more than 50 km of coastline, including the southern coast of Crimea and the waters of the Black Sea. As a result, a state of emergency was declared in Russian cities of the Krasnodar Territory and in Kerch.

It is predicted that the spread of the oil stain will continue until January 3, 2025.