Russia Removes Over 70,000 Tons of Contaminated Sand From Black Sea Coast
Removal of contaminated sand from Russia’s Black Sea coastline, Dec. 23, 2024. X/ ForbesIndia
December 31, 2024 Hour: 11:15 am
Nevertheless, authorities warned that 200,000 tons of soil along the Russian coastline could become contaminated.
On Tuesday, Krasnodar Vice Governor Igor Galas confirmed that thousands of tons of oil-contaminated sand had been removed from the Black Sea coastline.
RELATED:
Russia and Ukraine Exchange War Prisoners
“Over the past two weeks, colossal efforts have been made to mitigate the consequences of pollution on the beaches of Anapa and the Temryuk region. More than 70,000 tons of sand contaminated with fuel have been removed,” he said, referring to the pollution caused by the wreckage of two Russian oil tankers on December 15.
Nevertheless, environmental authorities warned that up to 200,000 tons of soil along the Russian coastline of the Black Sea could become contaminated.
Previously, Russian President Vladimir Putin described the fuel spill in the Black Sea as an “ecological disaster” and called for measures to prevent further contamination of the affected areas.
The Russian leader also stated that approximately 40 percent of the fuel carried by the tankers Volgoneft 212 and Volgoneft 239, about 9,200 tons, spilled into the sea.
These oil tankers, both built more than 50 years ago for river navigation and later adapted for maritime use, sank during a storm near the Kerch Strait, which connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov.
The first tanker broke in two about 7–8 kilometers from the coast, while the second drifted for several hours before finally running aground about 80 meters from the shore in Krasnodar, one of the regions most frequented by Russian vacationers.
teleSUR/ JF Source: EFE
