World · 10 d ago
Ras Al Khaimah closes all its beaches over an oil spill
The emirate in the United Arab Emirates said Saturday that its beaches stay closed until further notice. Umm Al Quwain and Sharjah's Al Hamriyah beach had already closed.
What we know
- Oil is leaking from a tanker off Umm Al Quwain
- The spill caused the smell reported in the UAE
Not yet
- How far the oil slick extends
- Which tanker it is and what caused the leak
Oil is leaking from a tanker in the Arabian Gulf, and the UAE says the spill caused a strong smell reported across the country. The ministry said the odours pose no health risk.
Why it matters
A Greenpeace campaigner said the Gulf's semi-enclosed waters could let pollutants persist. A university scientist warned that if oil reaches the coast, a full recovery could take years.
