UAE closes all Umm al Quwain beaches after tanker oil spill

DUBAI — The United Arab Emirates has temporarily closed all beaches and coastal areas in Umm al Quwain after a tanker oil spill affected the emirate’s coastline, the country’s Ministry of Climate Change and Environment said on Friday.The ministry said on Friday that its monitoring system had detected a ‌tanker oil ‌spill affecting beaches ‌in Umm Al-Quwain.The ministry did not name the vessel, but international maritime agencies say the Gem No.2 was struck in a suspected Iranian drone attack on October 9 to 10. Twenty-two Indian sailors were rescued from the 330-metre vessel at the time.The extent of the oil slick is unclear, but confirmation of the incident came amid growing concerns about the environmental impact of the Iran war on the Gulf and the Arabian Sea.Odors reported by residents in Sharjah, Ajman and Umm Al-Quwain posed no health risks to them, the ‌ministry added.The ministry said all ‌beaches and coastal ‌areas in Umm Al-Quwain had been temporarily closed until technical teams completed ‌their assessments and determined the necessary safety and marine protection measures.Containment, cleanup and remediation operations began immediately in coordination with local and federal authorities to limit environmental impacts, according to a statement.Survey operations are ongoing as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of the marine environment, the statement added.It urged fishermen and other sea users to follow authorities’ instructions and avoid fishing in affected areas.The ministry also called on the public to rely on official channels, avoid rumors and follow updates on developments and measures taken.