Muscat, August 10 (QNA) - Omani authorities said on Monday that efforts are underway to address the grounding of the oil tanker Caroline Bezengi in Omani territorial waters off Hallaniyat Islands in Dhofar Governorate.

The authorities are working to reduce the risks posed by the incident, protect the marine environment, and maintain safe navigation.

The Omani Environment Authority said it is monitoring the incident through an integrated environmental monitoring, surveillance, and assessment system. The system tracks environmental conditions, monitors the movement and spread of the oil pollution, and identifies priority areas for response and protection.

The Authority stated that its latest monitoring and technical analysis confirmed that oil pollution remains present in the affected marine area. An oil slick covering approximately 390 square kilometers was detected northeast of Hallaniyat Islands, extending toward the mainland coast. At its closest point, the slick is about 7 kilometers from the shore.

The Authority also noted satellite imagery and other monitoring data showed the slick continuing to move along a similar path, with its observed extent reaching approximately 449 kilometers.

Meanwhile, Oman's Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology said technical inspections are continuing to assess the condition of the ship's hull and the damage it sustained, as well as to identify the sources of the leak.

Several ships and oil tankers have been targeted along the Omani coastline in recent times amid regional developments. (QNA)