Pollution in the Kamchatka Sea, Russia’s Far East, with large amounts of dead marine life at Khalaktyrsky Beach, October 2020 © Twitter video clip
According to environmental groups, the water has changed color, dead marine life can be seen on the beach, and some surfers are suffering from fever and vomiting….
Concerns have been raised about an environmental disaster in Russia’s Far East after locals said dozens of dead marine animals were found washed up on beaches from the Pacific Ocean, the Moscow Times reported on October 4. Images of polluted beaches shared on social media over the weekend showed the bodies of octopus, big fish, sea urchins, crabs and other marine animals washed up on the beaches.
Water samples tested around the beach at Khalaktyrsky, in Russia’s Kamchatka Region, showed oil levels four times higher than usual and phenol levels 2.5 times higher, Greenpeace said.
The extent of the pollution has not been determined, but the fact that dead animals have been found along the coast confirms the seriousness of the situation,” the organization said in a statement. The statement called the incident an “ecological disaster.
Russian authorities on October 3 told people in the Kamchatka region of the Far East to stay away from a pristine beach because of unexplained seawater pollution, according to the Central News Agency’s Moscow roundup. Greenpeace said this was evidence of an “ecological disaster” in the area, with some surfers suffering from fever and vomiting.
According to Reuters, the contamination occurred at Karaktysky Beach in Kamchatka, and the cause is still unclear.
Russian authorities say that preliminary tests have found high levels of petroleum products and the chemical phenol in the seawater. Greenpeace has asked authorities to find the source of the contamination as soon as possible.
Vladimir Solodov, the head of the Kamchatka region, said, “The only thing that is perhaps certain at this point is that there are contaminants in the water. The final test results are not yet available.”
Greenpeace suggests that the contamination may have started weeks ago. They say that people who come to Karaketsky Beach have been noticing the contamination for weeks.
The beach, located on the Pacific coast and covered in black volcanic sand, is a popular tourist attraction that stretches for dozens of kilometers.
In a statement, Greenpeace said, “The water… . has changed color and poses a health risk to people. Over the past few weeks, people who have been in contact with the sea have experienced adverse reactions.” These include sore throats, worsening vision, dry eyes, nausea, weakness, vomiting and fever.
Greenpeace reposted an Instagram video of dead octopuses and other marine life washing up on the beach. Reuters has not been able to confirm whether these videos show the current environmental damage at the site.
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