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Israeli desert hit by major oil spill | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Millions of litres of crude oil have caused severe damage after spilling from a pipeline in what is described as one of the worst environmental accidents in Israel's history. | Millions of litres of crude oil have caused severe damage after spilling from a pipeline in what is described as one of the worst environmental accidents in Israel's history. |
The spill reached the Evrona nature reserve north of the southern port city of Eilat, close to the Jordan border. | The spill reached the Evrona nature reserve north of the southern port city of Eilat, close to the Jordan border. |
Israeli and Jordanian media report that 80 people near Aqaba have been taken to hospital with breathing difficulties. | Israeli and Jordanian media report that 80 people near Aqaba have been taken to hospital with breathing difficulties. |
Israeli officials say rehabilitation of the area could take months, even years. | Israeli officials say rehabilitation of the area could take months, even years. |
The pipeline was breached during maintenance at a spot some 20km from Eilat on Wednesday evening. | The pipeline was breached during maintenance at a spot some 20km from Eilat on Wednesday evening. |
Ronen Moshe, spokesman for the Eilat Ashkelon Pipeline Company (EAPC), told Haaretz newspaper that the spill happened in a new section of the pipeline. | Ronen Moshe, spokesman for the Eilat Ashkelon Pipeline Company (EAPC), told Haaretz newspaper that the spill happened in a new section of the pipeline. |
"The leak has been stopped," he said, adding that an investigation was under way to determine the cause of the spill. | "The leak has been stopped," he said, adding that an investigation was under way to determine the cause of the spill. |
Police, fire fighters, pipeline engineers, maintenance teams and Environment Ministry officials were dispatched on Wednesday to try to stem the breach. | Police, fire fighters, pipeline engineers, maintenance teams and Environment Ministry officials were dispatched on Wednesday to try to stem the breach. |
The Evrona is one of the most important nature reserves in the Jordan rift valley, which runs from the Sea of Galilee in Israel to the Red Sea. | The Evrona is one of the most important nature reserves in the Jordan rift valley, which runs from the Sea of Galilee in Israel to the Red Sea. |
The pipeline, which stretches between Eilat on the Red Sea to Ashkelon on the Mediterranean, was built in the 1960s to bring Iranian oil from the Persian Gulf to Europe. | The pipeline, which stretches between Eilat on the Red Sea to Ashkelon on the Mediterranean, was built in the 1960s to bring Iranian oil from the Persian Gulf to Europe. |
However since the severing of relations between Iran and Israel after 1979 Islamic Revolution it has been mostly used to move oil within Israel. | However since the severing of relations between Iran and Israel after 1979 Islamic Revolution it has been mostly used to move oil within Israel. |
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