Ras Al Khaimah beaches reopen after supertanker oil spill

Detailed summary

Ras Al Khaimah has reopened a number of beaches following the worst oil spill in the Arabian Gulf in years.Seven public and hotel beaches are now safe to visit following clean-up…

Ras Al Khaimah has reopened a number of beaches following the worst oil spill in the Arabian Gulf in years.

Seven public and hotel beaches are now safe to visit following clean-up efforts.

Ras Al Khaimah Government Media Office said these included: Flamingo Beach, Dahan Beach, Al Mairid Beach, and the Al Rams Corniche, along with beaches inside the Anantara, InterContinental and Cove Rotana resorts.

UAE oil spill: Everything we know as spill is contained and clean-up drive continues

More beaches will be reopened when they are ready, officials said. A lengthy stretch of coastline from Sharjah in the south to RAK in the north has been closed for nearly three weeks.

The oil spill was traced back to the supertanker Gem No.2, which was hit in a suspected Iranian drone attack in early October. The crew were rescued, but oil spilt into the Gulf over a period of weeks.

The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment confirmed the spill on October 22 after residents reported a strong fuel-like smell in parts of the UAE.

The government has since said the spill from the ship has been contained.

On Monday, Al Luluyah Beach in Khor Fakkan on the Gulf of Oman was closed due to an oil spill. The incident was the first confirmed spill on the UAE's east coast. Authorities did not specify the cause.

Opening of the article, excerpted from The National. To read the rest, open the article on the publisher's site.