Oil Spill Threatens Black Sea Coastline

A leak on Tikhoretsk-Tuapse-2 pipeline caused an oil spill in the Black Sea, close to Russia’s port of Tuapse, covering some 70,000 square meters, according to preliminary estimates, IAA PortNews reports.

According to Rescue & Environmental Operations Centre OJSC (ECOSPAS), the photos show that the spill is quite large, and that the entire Black Sea coast between Tuapse and Novorossysk is under threat of oil pollution, including the Gelendzhik resort area.

An incident response headquarters has been set up at the port of Tuapse. 15 vehicles, emergency response facilities, two trucks of sorbent and over 200 persons have been mobilized to clear the port.

Krasnodar region prosecutor’s office has initiated the investigation into the spill.