The Krasnodar region in southwestern Russia has declared a state of emergency after oil continued to wash ashore following the collision of two oil tankers in the Black Sea last week.
The incident occurred when the Volgoneft 212 and Volgoneft 239 tankers were severely damaged in a storm while navigating the Kerch Strait. The Volgoneft 212 split in half during the collision. Reports confirm that both tankers were carrying approximately 4,300 deadweight tonnes of crude oil each at the time of the accident.
Both vessels involved in the crash were over 50 years old, according to a report by Reuters, citing Russian news agency TASS. A third tanker, also from the same era, has since reported damage after oil from the other two ships spilled into the Black Sea, as per a certificate reviewed by Reuters.
A week after the collision, the Krasnodar region officially declared a state of emergency.
“Unfortunately, oil products continue to wash up on the beaches of Krasnodar,” Governor Veniamin Kondratyev said on Telegram Wednesday.
Initially, scientists predicted that most of the spilled oil would remain at the bottom of the Black Sea, where it could be collected. However, due to warmer weather conditions, the oil surfaced and began washing ashore, Kondratyev explained.
The emergency had initially been confined to municipal areas, but as of Wednesday, it has been expanded to cover the entire Krasnodar region.
Experts and insurers have warned of the potential for a major environmental disaster, citing the aging fleet of tankers that Russia has been forced to rely on to transport crude oil and refined products amid growing Western sanctions.
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