DUBAI, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- All beaches and coastal areas in Umm Al Quwain, one of the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), have been temporarily closed following an oil spill from a tanker, the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment said Friday.
In a statement posted on social media platform X, the ministry said the spill affecting Umm Al Quwain's beaches was detected by the UAE's technical monitoring and environmental assessment system.
Response teams have launched containment, cordoning, cleanup and remediation operations in coordination with local and federal authorities to minimize environmental impacts. Precautionary coastal surveys, monitoring and environmental assessments are underway to determine the impact scope and identify measures to protect the marine environment, it added.
The closure will remain in place until technical teams complete assessments and develop the necessary safety and marine protection measures.
The ministry also responded to reports of unusual odors in Sharjah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain, assuring residents the odors pose no health risks.
Fishermen and other marine users have been urged to follow official instructions and refrain from fishing in affected waters.
The public is advised to get information from official channels and avoid spreading rumors. The ministry will release further updates on the incident and response efforts. ■
