On October 6, an oil tanker named 'Aframax Rio', sailing under the Liberian flag, caught fire in the waters of the Sirius federal territory near Sochi. According to claims by the Russian transport ministry, the vessel was supposedly targeted by an unmanned boat. The tanker, which was transporting crude oil from Novorossiysk to India, had a 23-member crew on board, all of whom were safely evacuated.

The incident produced a massive column of black smoke visible from many kilometers away, while residents in central Sochi reported a strong smell of burning. In response to the emergency, local authorities closed all municipal beaches. Residents were advised to keep their windows and doors tightly shut, use protective masks if stepping outside, and limit their outdoor activities as much as possible. *

However, regional reports highlighted a disjointed official response, noting that people continued to stroll along the Primorsk coastline and cafes remained open on the evening of the incident. Critics pointed out that air-raid sirens were not activated in Sochi on that day, raising doubts about the adequacy of the local warning systems.

By the morning of October 7, regulatory authorities claimed there was no significant pollution detected in the Black Sea, though monitoring efforts persisted. The Sochi administration stated that airborne pollutant levels allegedly remained within acceptable limits, though the beaches continued to stay closed to the public.

Source: kun.uz