🔻Officials in Ras al-Khaimah announced on Saturday that all beaches in the region will be closed until further notice.

The decision was taken one day after an oil spill into the sea led to the closure of beaches in the neighboring emirates, namely Umm al-Quwain and Sharjah.

The Ras al-Khaimah Public Services Department said in a statement that it was issued by the top police command in Ras al-Khaimah. The statement did not cite a reason for the measure.

The United Arab Emirates announced yesterday that efforts to contain the oil spill from an oil tanker in the country’s waters were underway, and the country’s Ministry of Climate Change and Environment is assessing the environmental consequences of the incident.

The ministry also said that all beaches around the city of Umm al-Quwain have been temporarily closed so that technical teams can complete their assessments and determine the necessary safety and protective measures.

The ministry asked fishermen to stay away from affected areas and to follow official instructions.

📸 COPERNICUS SENTINEL-2/Reuters