Tanker runs aground off Oman – risk of an oil disaster

A tanker has run aground off the coast of Oman, causing significant amounts of crude oil to leak. Satellite imagery suggests that the oil slick is already spreading over a vast area. According to reports from Deutschlandfunk, environmental protection organizations such as Greenpeace are warning of a severe ecological disaster if the leaks are not swiftly controlled.

The tanker, which is affected by EU sanctions, is suspected of being a target of an attempted attack. Reports from Deutsche Welle highlight that the leaked oil has spread to an area equivalent to that of Lake Geneva. The situation is thus evolving into a serious threat to the marine environment and the coastal region of the Sultanate of Oman.