35km oil slick from struck tanker reaches UAE coast

A crude oil tanker attacked near the Strait of Hormuz has released a slick now stretching more than 35km, or 22 miles, across the United Arab Emirates coastline. Satellite images from Monday showed the initial leak from a vessel matching the dimensions and location of the Gem No.2. By Wednesday, the same data revealed the oil had expanded rapidly over the preceding two days.

The UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment confirmed on Thursday that beaches near the northern city of Umm Al Quwain were being affected. Verified video from Friday shows the dark oil reaching the shore and turning the water black. The ministry stated that it had immediately begun containment efforts to limit environmental impacts.

The timeline of the damage is clear from radar satellite imagery reviewed by BBC Verify and the intelligence firm MAIAR. A small leak appeared on 19 October, but the volume grew sharply in the next 48 hours. The maritime intelligence firm Vanguard reported that the Panama-flagged Gem No.2 was struck by an unknown projectile on 9 October, just north of the town of Al Jazeera Al Hamra. A fire that followed was later extinguished, and all 22 Indian crew members were rescued on 11 October.

Prof Steve Widdicombe, director of the Sharjah Marine Science Research Centre, told BBC Verify that an impact on marine life is inevitable. He noted that spills can kill animals quickly by trapping turtles, smothering seabirds, or damaging fish gills. He also warned of longer-term harm if species remain exposed to toxic compounds, which may affect their ability to reproduce. Researchers stress that it is too early to judge the severity of the damage, as it depends on the volume of oil, its type, evaporation rates, and the effectiveness of the clean-up.

The slick extends toward Siniyah and Khor Al Beidah islands, a globally recognized Key Biodiversity Area. This region supports corals, seagrasses, saltmarshes, green turtles, and the critically endangered Halavi guitarfish. Eoghan Darbyshire, a scientist at the Conflict and Environment Observatory, called the spill's proximity to these habitats the most concerning environmental angle.

The Gem No.2 was one of a record number of ships attacked in and around the strait at the start of October. Security experts told BBC Verify that these strikes are part of an Iranian effort to assert greater control over the waterway in response to US military escorts. Commercial ships have come under attack from both Iranian and US forces amid the ongoing conflict between the two countries.

This is not the first major spill in the region. In August, another large oil slick reached the shores of Iran's Qeshm Island. Experts said that incident also threatened wildlife, protected ecosystems, and local fishing communities.