A sanctioned tanker carrying nearly 1 million barrels of oil appears to have become further submerged in waters off the coast of Oman where it has been grounded for several weeks, satellite images reviewed by The Associated Press show.
Crude oil has been leaking and spreading quickly in recent days from the Caroline Bezengi and has reached the shores of Qibliyah Island, off Oman’s southwest coast.
As of Aug. 7, a spill of oil sheen covered nearly 800 square kilometres (309 square miles), according to Wim Zwijnenburg, an environmental expert for PAX, a Dutch organization that tracks environment in conflicts.
Greenpeace Germany, which has also been monitoring the situation, said the spill is increasing, indicating deterioration of the vessel’s condition.
“Satellite imagery analysis suggests that the oil spill covered 45 square kilometres (17 square miles) up until July 26. By Aug. 2, it had expanded to around 150 square kilometres (58 square miles), and imagery from Aug. 4 indicates that it now extends across roughly 600 square kilometres (232 square miles),” said Nina Noelle, an environmental disaster expert at Greenpeace Germany.
On Saturday, Zwijnenburg said the oil sheen was barely visible in new satellite images and appeared to have been diluted and dispersed by weather conditions.
