UAE: Oil spill hits beach near Fujairah’s Snoopy Island; authority to investigate cause

An oil spill struck a beach next to Fujairah's Snoopy Island but, thanks to the community's prompt action, the area was cleaned up immediately, authorities said on Friday.

Hotels on Al Aqah Beach — from where the iconic island is seen — confirmed to Khaleej Times on Saturday that an oil spill incident took place in their area. They added, however, that it is now safe for visitors and guests to go swimming.

"There are still some spots with oil but, in general, it's safe to head to the beach and enjoy the waters," a hotel representative said. "Visitors can also go snorkelling."

In a post on Instagram, the Fujairah Environmental Authority shared pictures of the beach – before and after the clean-up operation.

In the first photo, the beach's sand was seen with streaks of oil that looked like wave marks. After the operation, the golden beach cleared up and none of the marks were seen.

Clean-up

As soon as hotels in the area reported the oil spill, a team from the environmental authority rushed to the location.

In coordination with companies specialising in such cases, the affected hotels, and other entities, the authority managed to contain the situation.

The authority said investigations were underway to identify the cause of the spill. Legal action will be taken against those responsible, it added, stressing that there would be no leniency towards those who threaten the emirate's natural resources.

Earlier, in 2022, some beaches had been temporarily closed after an oil spill affected parts of Fujairah and Kalba, Sharjah.

Authorities, then too, worked swiftly to clean up the beaches and restore them after fishermen reported the spill. In the meanwhile, the municipality of Kalba had raised red flags on beaches in the area to prevent visitors from swimming.

• Brazil fishermen turn to mobile app to combat pollution scourge