Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that more decisive action is needed to remove the effects of the oil spill in the Black Sea. According to him, the efforts so far have been successful insufficient to contain the ecological catastrophe. As reported by Reuters, Putin described the situation in the Black Sea as “one of the greatest ecological challenges we have faced in recent years.”
During a government meeting, the leader Russia criticized the lack of effective coordination of activities between regional and federal authorities.
– From what I see and from the information provided to me, everything that has been done so far to limit the damage is clearly insufficient – said the president quoted by Reuters.
Putin appealed to Fr establishment of a special commissionwhich will address both mitigating the effects of the current disaster and preventing future spills.
Oil spill in the Black Sea. A large-scale ecological disaster
The leak occurred on December 15. Two old tankers were damaged during a storm in the Kerch Straitwhich connects the Black Sea with the Sea of Azov and separates the Kerch Peninsula into Crimea from the Russian Krasnodar Krai.
One of the tankers sank and the other ran aground.
According to state media, the two machines, which are more than 50 years old, were carrying a total of about 9,200 tons (62,000 barrels) of petroleum products at the time of the crash. Russian investigators reported last week that approximately 2,400 tons of petroleum products leaked into the sea.
Since the leak thousands of rescuers and volunteers are working to remove contaminated sand and soil on both banks of the Kerch Strait. Environmental organizations report about deaths of dolphins, porpoises and seabirds living in this area.