MADRID Dec. 23 () –
The Russian authorities have reported this Monday that more than 10,000 people are already participating in the cleanup work after the spill of some 4,000 tons of oil in the Kerch Strait, which separates the Black Sea from the Azov Sea and threatens to reach the coast of the Crimean peninsula, annexed by Moscow in 2014.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has indicated that all of them are part of a group recently created to accelerate the process and avoid greater environmental impact. Thus, he specified that the efforts are concentrated on the sections that go from Blagoveshesnkaya to Vitiazevo and from Vitiazevo to Anapa beach, the most affected area.
The head of the portfolio, Alexander Kozlov, has indicated that it is necessary to accelerate this process as soon as possible. “The more crude oil we collect, the less problems we will have for the months of April and May, when it begins to emerge with the increase in temperature.”
According to experts, the contaminated soil could increase to 200,000 tons. “As far as sunken oil tankers are concerned, they must be investigated with the help of divers,” he added.
On December 17, Russian authorities declared a state of emergency in the city of Anapa, Krasnodar province, due to the spill caused by the breakdown of the Volgoneft 212 and Volgoneft 239 pre-tanker tankers due to a storm. On board the two ships there were about 9,200 tons of oil. One of the ships sank, while the other suffered serious damage.
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