Oil spill in the Mediterranean Sea: the water table is approaching Cyprus and they fear an environmental disaster



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A satellite image shows the Baniyas power plant in Baniyas, Syria, and the oil spill in the Mediterranean Sea on August 28, 2021. Photo taken on August 28, 2021. (Maxar Technologies / REUTERS)
A satellite image shows the Baniyas power plant in Baniyas, Syria, and the oil spill in the Mediterranean Sea on August 28, 2021. Photo taken on August 28, 2021. (Maxar Technologies / REUTERS)

On Wednesday, an oil slick from a Syrian power plant approached the north of the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. despite urgent efforts to stop the spread.

Self-proclaimed environment and transport officials Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), recognized only by Turkey, said the oil had approached 15 nautical miles (28 kilometers) from the Karpas Peninsula in the far north of the island.

The Minister of Development and Transport of Northern Cyprus, Official channelsaid on Tuesday that the changing winds had temporarily pushed fuel into Syria.

But the minister added that he still hoped that at least some of the oil will reach northern Cyprus on Friday.

“There will be great damage to our habitat”Canaltay told local television.

TRNC environmental officials said up to 20,000 tonnes of oil spilled from the Baniyas plant on the Mediterranean coast of Syria.

They added that marine life was particularly threatened as some of the oil had started to solidify and sink to the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea.

The Republic of Cyprus, the overwhelming majority of whom are Greek Cypriots and who have been members of the European Union since 2004, has a effective control over the southern two-thirds of the island.

The TRNC government has relied almost exclusively on financial and other assistance from Ankara since its secession from the rest of the island in 1974.

Erol Adalier, from the Deep Diving center, which is participating in operations to try to contain the spread of this spot, indicated that the island lacks the means to cope with this oil spill and needs international cooperation.

Turkey, the only country that recognizes the RTNC, teams sent and intervention vesselsTurkish Vice President Fuat Oktay announced on Monday.

Local authorities have also planned send drones to inspect the affected area and assess where it might land on the shore.

A distributed image released by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) on August 31, 2021 shows people cleaning up Syria's Mediterranean coast after oil spilled from the Baniyas power plant (SANA / AFP)
A distributed image released by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) on August 31, 2021 shows people cleaning up Syria’s Mediterranean coast after oil spilled from the Baniyas power plant (SANA / AFP)

But, according to experts, joint action with the Republic of Cyprus is essential.

“It’s not just a problem in northern Cyprus. We must act together with the south “Cemaliye Ozveren Ekinci, president of the Northern Cyprus Chamber of Environmental Engineers, told the Turkish Cypriot agency. SO.

“A joint action plan must be drawn up with the Greek Cypriot partners. Everything that is necessary for the common future of our island must be submitted to the political leaders, ”said the Chamber of Geological Engineers of Northern Cyprus.

Civil servants in Syria, a country ravaged by war, provided few details on what may have caused the spill from the hydrocarbon plant last week.

According to Syria, the size of the leak ranged from two to four tons of fuel.  (SANA / AFP)
According to Syria, the size of the leak ranged from two to four tons of fuel. (SANA / AFP)

Syria’s electricity minister told a pro-government newspaper on Monday that the size of the leak ranged from two to four tonnes of fuel.

Since 1974 Cyprus is divided into two partsTo the south is the Republic of Cyprus, a member of the European Union (EU), and to the north is the TRNC, self-proclaimed in 1983 and recognized only by Ankara.

(With information from AFP)

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