A big oil slick hit the Dibba-Fujairah coastline on Friday, blackening tourist beaches with a layer
of sludge.
Hassan Al Yamahi, Director of Dibba Al Fujairah Municipality said, “The slick, which appeared to be a form of light-crude oil, wrapped up more than five kilometres along the shoreline near the Dibba area.”
He said the oil spill reached out to the hotels in the Al Aqah area which affected the beachgoers.
The reason for such oil spills, he clarified, emerged from what is called the ‘water balance’, the water that ships throw out in the sea.
Some hotels in the Al Aqah area placed warning signs advising the guests not to approach the sea.
Acting immediately, the Dibba Fujairah Municipality dispatched a group of specialised workers to remove
the slicks.
The official said such incidents has become a frequent phenomenon in the area. The last oil slick occurred in September last year which covered an area of more than 2km along the shoreline.
Also in March last year, two incidents of oil slicks were reported in the same area. Al Yamahi, however, called on the environment authorities to intervene and put an end to such
frequent happenings.
Earlier, the official urged the Ministry of Environment and Water and Coast Guards to take measures to prevent the repetition of oil slicks and to take measures against erring ships and tankers.
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