Simferopol: Russia declared a regional state of emergency in Crimea on Saturday, following a massive oil spill in the Black Sea last month. The spill has prompted large-scale cleanup operations along the Kerch Strait, where workers have been removing tons of contaminated sand and soil.
Mikhail Razvozhaev, the Russian-appointed governor of Sevastopol, said minor traces of pollution had resurfaced, necessitating swift action. “The state of emergency will enable authorities to act decisively, including ordering evacuations if required,” Razvozhaev stated.
The Kerch Strait, a crucial waterway between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, separates Crimea’s Kerch Peninsula from Russia’s Krasnodar region.
Russian rescue workers cleared nearly 95,000 tons of contaminated sand and earth on either side of the Kerch Strait following an oil spill in the Black Sea https://t.co/1HPbw3wMA5 pic.twitter.com/tC2drHhVGt
— Reuters (@Reuters) January 4, 2025
Cleanup Operations Underway
According to Russia’s emergencies ministry, over 86,000 metric tons of oil-contaminated sand and soil have been removed so far. The spill originated from two aging tankers struck by a storm on December 15. One of the vessels sank, while the other ran aground, leading to the release of heavy M100-grade fuel oil. This type of oil is particularly challenging to manage, as it sinks or remains suspended in water rather than floating to the surface.
More than 10,000 workers have been deployed to clear the viscous, odorous fuel oil from beaches, including those in Anapa, a popular summer resort. Environmental groups have reported significant damage to marine life, including the deaths of dolphins, porpoises, and seabirds.
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Video footage released by the emergencies ministry showed workers in protective suits loading oil-tainted soil into bags and using shovels to skim contaminated sand. Cleanup operations have also extended to the broader Kuban region in Russia and Crimea, where the annexation by Russia in 2014 remains internationally disputed.
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Scope of the Spill
The Russian transport ministry confirmed that approximately 2,400 metric tons of oil products spilled into the sea, a figure lower than initial estimates. The tankers involved, both over 50 years old, were reportedly carrying around 9,200 metric tons of oil products in total at the time of the incident.
Authorities have intensified their response to mitigate the environmental and economic impacts of the disaster, although concerns about long-term damage persist.
