- Russian Black Sea oil terminal on fire after Ukrainian attack.
- In Tuapsa, four storage tanks at the oil facility are still burning.
- Black rain with toxic particles appeared around the terminal.
Russian emergency services are still trying to put out a fire that broke out at a Black Sea oil terminal after a Ukrainian attack earlier this week. This was stated on Thursday by local officials who called on residents living near the facility not to leave their homes due to possible health risks from harmful substances. TASR informs about it according to the report of the AFP agency.
Ukraine struck an oil facility in the port city and well-known Black Sea airport of Tuapse on Mondaywhile four storage tanks are still burning after the attack, according to the regional crisis management center.
On Wednesday, it also rained in the vicinity of the terminal, which, in combination with soot and ash in the air, created the so-called black rain. According to the authorities, the concentration of toxic particles was “two to three times higher than the permitted limits”. In addition, the rain left a black coating on the surfaces.
AFP reports that unverified images posted by local residents on social networks show huge black clouds over the city, oil slicks on the sea and beaches, and dead fish or birds lying on the shore. Stray dogs and cats, on the other hand, have fur covered with black deposits, and cars are littered with small black dots.
City officials on Wednesday urged residents to close their windows, limit their time outside and, if they need to go out, to wear a mask. According to AFP, Tuapse is repeatedly the target of Ukrainian attacks. In the past period, Kiev has intensified its attacks on Russian oil ports in an attempt to weaken the country’s income from energy exports, which are a key source of funding for the military, reports AFP.
