Egypt’s Ministry of Local Development and Environment reported on Saturday that a river barge sank completely at a depth of approximately 15 meters in the High Dam East Port in Aswan Governorate, resulting in an oil slick estimated to be about 200 meters long and 100 meters wide.
The oil slick was caused by a fuel and oil leak from the barge’s fuel tank and engines in a slush area of the loading port on Lake Nasser, away from the main waterway.
Minister of Local Development and Environment Manal Awad ordered that all necessary measures be taken immediately – in coordination with all relevant ministries and authorities – to ensure environmental protection and maintain water quality in Lake Nasser.
Awad also ordered the Aswan branch of the Environmental Affairs Agency to quickly collect water samples from the affected area and conduct the necessary laboratory analyses.
The analysis revealed that some water quality indicators exceeded permissible limits due to the presence of a layer of oil and diesel fuel on the water’s surface.
Swift cleanup work
Cooperation was immediately established with the Environmental Police and Waterways Department to carry out operations to disperse the oil slick and mitigate its environmental impact, while environmental monitoring and water quality measurements continued.
Awad emphasized the importance of continued field monitoring and full coordination among all relevant authorities, as well expediting the containment of any environmental impact.
She affirmed that the state possesses a comprehensive system for dealing with environmental emergencies, relying on rapid response and institutional coordination among various entities, which aids in protecting natural resources and safeguarding citizen interests.
