Cleaning of fuel leakage to last two months in Turkey’s Çeşme

İZMİR

AA photo

Cleaning works will last for at least two months after a 50-ton-fuelled ship stranded in the Çeşme district of the Aegean province of İzmir leaked and polluted its Paşalimanı area and Ilıca-Yıldız Burnu coast, Çeşme District Mayor Muhittin Dalgıç has said. 

Dalgıç said the winter conditions were increasing the spread of fuel over the sea.  

The fuel leakage polluted Çeşme’s internationally known turquoise blue seas and covered it in all black.   

Cleaning teams were continuing their works since the accident occurred.  

İzmir’s Directorate of Environment and Urbanization said the area surrounding Paşalimanı was the most affected by pollution.  

Meanwhile, locals and non-governmental organizations in the district criticized officials for intervening very late. 

The leakage happened after Panama-flagged ship Lady Tuna was stranded nearby Pırasa Island on Dec. 18. The ship was removed after 10 days about one to two miles off the coast.