About 70 dead dolphins found after fuel oil spill in Kerch Strait

KRASNODAR. Jan 23 (Interfax) - The number of dolphins killed by a fuel oil spill from wrecked tankers in the Kerch Strait has grown to 68-69, Director of the Delpha dolphin rescue research and environmental center Tatyana Belei told Interfax.

"The deaths of 68-69 dolphins have been recorded since December 15," Belei said.

The number of dead dolphins washed ashore has decreased in recent days, she said.

Earlier reports said that about 60 dolphins were found dead after the fuel oil spill.

Volgoneft 212 and Volgoneft 239 tankers carrying fuel oil wrecked in the Kerch Strait on December 15, causing an oil leak. The Russian Transport Ministry said that four petroleum product tanks were damaged in the wrecks, and about 2,400 tonnes of fuel oil spilled into the sea.

An oil spot of around 2,800 square meters was found near the Volgoneft 239 tanker, which ran aground outside Taman in the Temryuk district of the Krasnodar Territory, on January 10.

The Krasnodar Territory, Crimea and Sevastopol declared a regional emergency, and a federal emergency is also in effect.