Black Sea Oil Spill: Russia has declared a regional state of emergency in Crimea on Saturday as workers continued efforts to clear tons of contaminated sand and earth along the Kerch Strait following an oil spill in the Black Sea last month. The Kerch Strait, which separates Crimea’s Kerch Peninsula from Russia’s Krasnodar region, connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov.
Rescue workers have successfully cleared over 86,000 metric tons of contaminated sand and soil. The oil leak occurred from two aging tankers struck by a storm on December 15. One tanker sank, while the other ran aground, causing a significant spill.
Over 10,000 workers have been involved in the cleanup, including the arduous task of removing viscous, foul-smelling fuel oil from the sandy beaches around Anapa, a popular summer resort area. Environmental groups have reported the deaths of dolphins, porpoises, and seabirds as a result of the spill.
Authorities are continuing their cleanup efforts as the region faces the ongoing environmental impact of the disaster.
