Israel hit by worst environmental disaster in decades
osted by Teo Blašković on February 22, 2021 at 09:36
UTC (2 days ago)
Categories: Environmental disasters, Featured articles
Although the exact cause of the disaster is still
under investigation, the head of the Israel Nature and
Parks association said the incident is the country's
worst environmental disaster in decades. The cleanup
of over 170 km (106 miles) of affected coastline will
take a long time and consequences will be felt for
years.
Dozens of tons of fresh tar lumps began landing on
Israeli beaches in Habonim, Maagan Michael, and Neve
Yam on Wednesday, February 17, 2021.
On Sunday, February 21, Israel's Ministry of
Environmental Protection (MoEP) warned people to
refrain from going to beaches from Rosh Hanikra, in
the north, down to Zikim Beach in the Hof Ashkelon
Coastal Council, until further notice.
"Do not go to Mediterranean Sea beaches for swimming,
sports, or recreational activities until further
notice," the ministry said Sunday.
"Exposure to tar can be harmful to public health! The
Ministries are continuing to monitor the situation and
will update the public regarding this matter."
It's still unclear what the source of the tar is,
landing on the beaches since Wednesday morning,
authorities said.
Tar is a product of the decomposition and
crystallization of oils and oil products. This is
usually the result of the illegal dumping of oil into
the sea from a passing ship.
"The source is not known, but it should be noted that
if it's from the dumping of oil from a ship, it may
have traveled a great distance," MoEP said.
Because the tar that has been landing on the coasts is
either semi-solid or completely solid, it must be
removed manually, with the oily and sand debris being
separated from regular debris as much as possible, the
ministry said.
"The disaster we are witnessing in recent days on the
beaches of Israel is the most serious ecological
disaster in recent years, and we'll see its
consequences in years ahead," the country's Nature and
Parks association said.
The nature reserves affected are Shakmona, Habonim,
Rosh Hanikra, Tel Dor, Palmachim, Nitzanim, Zik Gedor,
and Hasharon Beach.
Featured image credit: Yossi Ozem, Nature And Parks
Authority
Teo Blašković
Author:
Teo Blašković
Researcher, journalist and editor of The Watchers. You
can reach me at teo [ at ] watchers.news.
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