Satellite images show that an oil spill from a damaged tanker off the coast of the United Arab Emirates has widened, triggering more beach closures and raising environmental concerns.
Images from the European Union's Copernicus satellite observation network dated 24 October show the oil spill has widened over the last few days and is nearing the shores of northern Umm Al Quwain emirate, with dark layers of oil spreading at sea and along the coastline.
Since the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran, attacks on commercial vessels in Gulf shipping lanes have driven up security risks for maritime traffic and heightened fears over the conflict's environmental fallout.
October has been the worst month for attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and nearby waterways, according to data compiled by the Washington Institute for Near East Policy think tank.
The UAE said on Friday that it was working to contain oil leaking from an offshore tanker, with its Ministry of Climate Change and Environment conducting an environmental assessment.
Authorities have not named the tanker involved in the incident or said what caused the spill. But experts told Reuters that the spill came from a tanker called the Gem No.2, which shipping sources said was struck by an unidentified projectile last month, causing a fire that was later extinguished.
Images from the EU's Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites showed a large oil spill coming from the tanker.
Authorities across various northern emirates responded to the spill by restricting access to coastal areas.
The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment said on Friday that it temporarily closed all beaches and coastal areas around the city of Umm Al Quwain, while authorities in neighbouring Sharjah shut access to Al Hamriyah Beach as a precaution.
"The reported oil spill off Umm Al Quwain is a serious environmental concern. The temporary closure of beaches and coastal areas is a prudent precaution while the extent of the spill and the movement of the oil are assessed," Nidal Hilal, Professor of Engineering and Director of New York University Abu Dhabi's Water Research Centre, told Reuters.
In Ras Al Khaimah, known for its beaches and luxury resorts, authorities said on Saturday that they would close all beaches in the emirate until further notice.
The UAE's marine life "is rich in fish, plants and corals, with over 500 different species of fish inhabiting the Gulf waters," including dolphins and marine turtles, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, or IUCN, says on its website.