From space, multiple oil spills caused by attacks by the United States, Israel, and Iran on energy facilities and tankers in the Persian Gulf can be seen; experts are warning of an imminent environmental disaster, .
Satellite images reveal the extent of the destruction in the region, including damage to the fragile biodiversity of the Persian Gulf. The spilled oil could affect the lives and livelihoods of people living along the coast, as well as the rich marine life.
An image taken on April 7 shows an oil spill stretching more than eight kilometers across the Strait of Hormuz, near the Iranian island of Qeshm. An Iranian vessel, the Shahid Bagheri, spilled crude oil after U.S. forces attacked it on February 28, Nina Noelle, a spokesperson for Greenpeace Germany, told CNN.
Another image shows oil around the island of Lavan, where Iranian state media reported an attack by “enemies” on an oil facility near the coast on April 7.
Oil spills threaten marine species such as turtles, dolphins, and whales, which could ingest the oil or become trapped in it. They would also affect the filtration systems of desalination plants, on which nearly 100 million people in the region depend for drinking water.
Oil spills threaten marine species such as turtles, dolphins, and whales, which could ingest the oil or become trapped in it. They would also affect the filtration systems of desalination plants, on which nearly 100 million people in the region depend for drinking water.
It is difficult to quantify the damage caused by these spills, but there are fears of an ecological disaster, especially if more ships are affected. According to CNN, Greenpeace Germany estimates that there are 75 large oil tankers in the Gulf, carrying nearly 19 billion liters of crude oil.
