Bulk Of Lebanon Oil Spill On Sea Bed As Of 8/23 Dateline - EDIE

Oil spilled during hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah has now sunk to the sea bed, choking sea life with a toxic carpet. Between 10,000 and 15,000 tonnes of fuel oil are believed to have reached the Mediterranean following the bombing of the Jiyyeh power station and the clean up operation was initially made impossible by the ongoing instability in the region.

The slick is more than 150km long, but its full extent has been difficult to assess due to an air and sea blockade. This week activist organisation Greenpeace and the Lebanese Union of Professional Divers published video footage of the underwater slick at Jiyyeh, stretching over 100m out to sea.

They argue that the seabed oil could continue to be a problem once the surface clean-up has been completed, as currents and wind could drag it up and lead to further contamination of the coastline.

"The scene is horrific, the seabed is completely covered with fuel oil which will threaten marine life for many years to come if it is not contained and removed immediately" said Mohammed El-Sarji, Greenpeace activist and head of the Lebanese Union of Professional Divers who conducted several dives in Jiyyeh.

EDIT

http://www.edie.net/news/news_story.asp?id=11906&channel=0