Today's Edition
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
All beaches and coastal areas in Umm Al Quwain have been temporarily closed following marine pollution caused by an oil spill from a tanker, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment has confirmed.
In a statement issued on Friday, The ministry said the UAE's technical monitoring and environmental assessment system detected the spill, which has affected Umm Al Quwain's beaches.
The incident has also caused odours noticed by residents in Sharjah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain. The ministry confirmed that these odours pose no health risks to residents.
Clean-up operations underway
Specialised teams, working in coordination with relevant local and federal authorities, immediately began containment operations, cordoned off affected areas and launched clean-up and remediation work to limit the environmental impact.
Precautionary coastal surveys, monitoring and environmental assessments are continuing across Umm Al Quwain's coastline to determine the extent of the pollution and safeguard the marine environment.
Beaches to remain closed
The temporary closure of beaches and coastal area will remain in effect until technical teams complete their assessments and identify the necessary measures to ensure safety and protect the marine environment.
The ministry said the response operations are aimed at containing the pollution and limiting its impact on the affected coastal areas.
MoCCAE also urged fishermen and other sea users to follow instructions issued by the relevant authorities and refrain from fishing in areas affected by the pollution.
It also called on the public to obtain information through official channels and avoid spreading rumours. The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to keeping the public informed about developments and the measures being taken to address the incident as monitoring and assessment efforts continue.
