Russia Declares Emergency in Crimea Over 2,400 Metric Tons of M100-Grade Oil Spill

Jan 4, 2025, 10:34 AM

Russia has declared a regional state of emergency in Crimea following an oil spill from two aging tankers damaged by a storm on December 15. The spill, involving heavy M100-grade fuel oil, has contaminated beaches in Sevastopol, the largest city in Crimea, and along the coast of the Krasnodar region. Over 86,000 metric tons of contaminated sand and soil have been cleared from the affected areas. The oil spill, which occurred in the Kerch Strait, has spread to cover hundreds of kilometers of coastline, prompting extensive cleanup efforts by emergency crews and volunteers. The Russian Transport Ministry reported that approximately 2,400 metric tons of oil products were released into the sea, less than initially feared. The incident has been described as an ecological disaster by Russian President Vladimir Putin, with environmental groups reporting the deaths of marine life.