Fuel oil cleanup in Anapa has been suspended due to a storm.

A storm has dumped a large amount of debris on the coast of Anapa, and the wet sand is unsiftable. Mechanized sand cleaning has been suspended, the task force reported, describing the amount of fuel oil washed ashore as insignificant.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," volunteers and bloggers reported fuel oil spills after the storm in Anapa and the Temryuk district. Birds covered in fuel oil have again appeared on the shore.

A strong storm has passed through Anapa, and the coast is littered with debris and seaweed. Equipment is currently focusing on cleaning the beaches and collecting waste washed ashore. Meanwhile, work to clear the sand of traces of oil products has been temporarily suspended, the Krasnodar Krai task force reported.

This is because the soil is saturated with moisture and unsuitable for sifting. Special equipment will resume work as soon as the sand dries.

Small particles of fuel oil, up to 1.5 cm in size, were found among the discarded seaweed and debris. These were promptly removed, according to a message on the task force's Telegram channel on October 16.

Nikolay Zalivin, director of Anapa Resorts LLC, reported that mechanized beach cleaning work has been suspended because the sand is soaked and equipment cannot operate. Debris thrown up by the storm is being removed, with the main effort focused on the area from the river. Mozhepsin to the Central Beach, which has already been completely cleaned.

Mechanized cleaning has already been completed on 7.8 hectares of beach in the village of Vityazevo, stretching for approximately 1.9 km, he said, adding that the equipment is ready for work and awaiting improved weather conditions to continue the cleanup.

As a reminder, on December 15, 2024, two tankers carrying fuel oil sank in the Kerch Strait. A crew member of one of the tankers died as a result. In addition, an oil spill occurred, leading to catastrophic environmental consequences, according to the "Caucasian Knot" report "Fuel Oil Spill in the Kerch Strait".

As a result of the environmental disaster, Rospotrebnadzor declared 141 beaches in Anapa and nine beaches in the Temryuk district unsuitable for recreation. Fuel oil was detected on all beaches in Anapa, on the coast in the Temryuk district, and on the coast of the Sea of Azov in the Slavyansk district of Kuban, according to the Caucasian Knot report "The extent of fuel oil pollution in southern Russia".