Russia declares emergency after Black Sea oil spill: Key details

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Russia declared a federal emergency after a Black Sea oil spill on December 27, 2024, caused by a tanker splitting during a storm. Environmental concerns prompt urgent cleanup efforts.

Black Sea oil spill

Volunteers clean coastline after major oil spill in Black Sea (AP Photo)

India Today Global Desk

UPDATED: Dec 28, 2024 23:59 IST

Russia declared a federal state of emergency on Friday, December 27, 2024, after an oil spill in the Black Sea after an oil tanker split catastrophically in the middle of a fierce winter storm. According to Russian Emergencies Ministry's head, Alexander Kurenkov, the declaration was made after a safety meeting that day.

The incident and its impact

A Russian oil tanker named Volgoneft 212, carrying more than 4,000 tons of fuel, broke apart off the coast of Crimea on December 15, 2024. Videos of the sinking showed half the vessel submerged in water. The authorities began a rescue operation to save the crew, although one was killed in the disaster.

Two other ships, the Volgoneft 239 and the Volgoneft 109, also experienced the same problems. However, their crew were rescued immediately.

Oil spill and cleanup efforts

Oil has been washing ashore on the Black Sea coast, causing environmental concerns. Volunteers have been trying their best to clean the mess, but they have also asked for federal aid in dealing with the situation at hand. Veniamin Kondratyev, the governor of Krasnodar Krai, expressed his concern about this disaster, stating that local resources were inadequate to deal with the size of the clean-up needed.

Declaration of a Federal State of Emergency

Due to the ongoing pollution and the need for a larger response, Russian officials declared a federal state of emergency. This will mobilize more resources and funding for the cleanup effort. As of Thursday, only 15% of the necessary work to address the spill had been completed. Russian authorities hope this declaration will speed up the response and help mitigate the ongoing environmental damage.

Next Steps in the Cleanup

With federal support now allocated, specialized companies will be deployed to assist with the cleanup and disposal of thousands of tons of oil-soaked sand. The situation remains dire, and authorities are working to prevent further emissions from the stricken tankers.

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indiatodayglobal

Published On:

Dec 28, 2024

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