Israeli bombardment spills 35,000 tons of heavy fuel oil
{{date|August 1, 2006}}

Resulting from the Israeli bombings on July 13 and 15, 2006 of the Jiyeh power station, located on the coast 30 kilometers south of [[Beirut]], [[Lebanon]], approximately 35,000 tons of heavy fuel oil have spilled into the [[Mediterranean Sea]].  The Lebanese Ministry of Environment expects additional tonnage to flow into the sea as a result of the damage.  For comparison, the {{w|Exxon Valdez oil spill}} released nearly 40,000 tons.

According to Berj Hatjian from the Lebanon Ministry of Environment, "What we have here is equivalent to a tanker sinking, and 20,000 to 30,000 tonnes reaching the shoreline."  Furthermore, several storage tanks caught fire due to the blast of the bombardment and continued to burn uncontrollably for 10 days after.  Wind and water currents have spread the oil slick across 70-80 kilometers of Lebanon coastline.
{|
|-
|[[Image:Beirut_oil_spill_1.JPG|none|thumb|280px|Image #1 of the resultant oil slick]]
|[[Image:Beirut_oil_spill_2.JPG|none|thumb|280px|Image #2 of the resultant oil slick]]
|-
|}

{{haveyoursay}}
== Sister links ==
{{sisters
|w|Jiyeh power station oil leak
}}
== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/5233358.stm
|title=Environmental 'crisis' in Lebanon
|author=
|pub=BBC News Online
|date=July 31, 2006}}

*{{source|url=http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/07/29/060729110246.0h0g1zoy.html
|title=Lebanon oil slick 'worst environmental disaster' in Med
|author=[[Agence France-Presse|AFP]]
|pub=Breitbart.com
|date=July 29, 2006}}

== External Links ==

[http://www.moe.gov.lb/rescuelebanon.htm RESCUE LEBANON'S COAST] Republic of Lebanon Ministry of Environment

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[[Category:2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict]]
[[Category:Environment]]
[[Category:Lebanon]]
[[Category:Mediterranean Sea]]
[[Category:Oil spills]]
[[Category:Middle East]]

[[es:Bombardeos israelíes producen el peor desastre ambiental del Mediterráneo]]
[[fr:Les bombardements israéliens provoquent une catastrophe environnementale au Proche-Orient]]
Resulting from the Israeli bombings on July 13 and 15, 2006 of the Jiyeh power station, located on the coast 30 kilometers south of Beirut, Lebanon, approximately 35,000 tons of heavy fuel oil have spilled into the Mediterranean Sea.  The Lebanese Ministry of Environment expects additional tonnage to flow into the sea as a result of the damage.  For comparison, the  released nearly 40,000 tons.

According to Berj Hatjian from the Lebanon Ministry of Environment, "What we have here is equivalent to a tanker sinking, and 20,000 to 30,000 tonnes reaching the shoreline."  Furthermore, several storage tanks caught fire due to the blast of the bombardment and continued to burn uncontrollably for 10 days after.  Wind and water currents have spread the oil slick across 70-80 kilometers of Lebanon coastline.

Image #1 of the resultant oil slick

Image #2 of the resultant oil slick


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2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict Environment Lebanon Mediterranean Sea Oil spills Middle East