MOSCOW, December 26. /TASS/. A state of emergency at the federal level was introduced following a fuel oil spill in the Black Sea caused by the tanker accident, the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry told TASS.

“Taking into account the current situation and the reports we have received, I propose to classify the emergency caused by the sinking of the tanker in the Kerch Strait as an incident at the federal level and launch a response at the federal level,” he said. declared the Russian Minister of Emergency Situations, Alexander Kurenkov.

He noted that “this classification will allow the deployment of additional resources and personnel from federal executive authorities and state corporations, as well as provide the necessary financial assistance to the relevant entities from the reserve fund of the Russian government” .

According to the ministry, the total length of the observed zone along the coast of the Krasnodar region is currently 220 kilometers. “Cleaning efforts continue in five areas – one near Temryuk and four others in Anapa,” the ministry said. “Approximately 30,000 tonnes of contaminated sand and soil were collected, and more than 23,500 tonnes were transported to collection sites,” the agency added.

In total, 295 square kilometers of water body in the Kerch Strait were studied. The surface area of ​​treated water now covers more than 29,000 square kilometers. In addition, 450 meters of floating booms were deployed. In the seaport of Anapa, about 5 square kilometers of coastline have been cleaned. Volunteers saved 1,154 birds. More than 10,000 people and 360 pieces of equipment are currently involved in emergency response efforts.