Black oil coats Umm Al Quwain shore after 35km slick spreads
The spill from the attacked tanker Gem No.2 has forced the closure of northern UAE beaches.
By Gabriel Qureshi ·
Black oil has reached the shoreline of Umm Al Quwain, forcing authorities to close local beaches. The slick originates from the Gem No.2, a tanker struck off the UAE coast in early October. Satellite data confirms the spread of crude along the northern coastline.
Radar imagery reviewed by BBC Verify and intelligence firm MAIAR tracks the expansion. A small leak appeared on 19 October. By Wednesday, the stain stretched more than 35km, or 22 miles, from the vessel. The growth rate accelerated sharply over those two days.
The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment confirmed the closure on Thursday. Verified video from Friday shows the water turning dark as the oil washes up. The ministry stated it immediately began containment efforts to limit environmental damage.
Experts say the impact on local ecosystems is certain. Steve Widdicombe, director of the Sharjah Marine Science Research Centre, told BBC Verify that an impact was inevitable. He noted that the final severity depends on the oil volume, its breakdown rate, and the speed of the clean-up.
The threat extends to a specific island group. The slick moves toward Siniyah and Khor Al Beidah. These islands form a Key Biodiversity Area. The habitat includes corals, seagrasses, and saltmarshes. It also supports green turtles and the critically endangered Halavi guitarfish.
Eoghan Darbyshire of the Conflict and Environment Observatory identified this proximity as the most concerning environmental factor. Marine life faces immediate risks from trapped shells and smothered feathers. Longer-term exposure to toxic compounds may also hinder the reproductive capacity of local species.
The Gem No.2 was hit by an unknown projectile on 9 October. The strike occurred just north of Al Jazeera Al Hamra. Footage from 10 October showed crew members donning lifejackets under a plume of black smoke. Iranian media described the route as unauthorized. The Indian consulate in Dubai confirmed that all 22 Indian crew members were rescued on 11 October.
Security experts link the attack to a wider effort by Iran to control the Strait of Hormuz. This follows US military escorts of commercial vessels. A similar spill hit Iran's Qeshm Island in August, threatening fishing communities and protected habitats.
Source: BBC News
