Oil spill off UAE widens, satellite images show, prompting more beach closures

An oil spill from a damaged tanker off the coast of the United Arab Emirates has widened, according to satellite images from the European Union's Copernicus observation network. Images dated October 24 show dark layers of oil spreading at sea and along the coastline, reaching close to the shores of the northern emirate of Umm Al Quwain, Al-Monitor reports.

The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment confirmed the spill is the cause of unexplained odours reported by residents in Sharjah, Ajman, and Umm Al Quwain. While the ministry stated the odours pose no health risks, multiple beaches in Umm Al Quwain, Sharjah, and Ras Al Khaimah have been closed as a massive clean-up began over the weekend, Gulf News reports.

Reports of unusual odours first emerged on Monday, October 19, prompting monitoring by local and federal agencies. Lieutenant General Abdullah Mubarak bin Amer of the Sharjah Police stated on October 20 that the situation was safe and stable with no threat to public health or safety, noting that the reported odours had disappeared at that time while inspections continued.

Brief written by urgent.news from Al-Monitor, Gulf News — 2 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.