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Firefighters and members of the civil defense clean the beach at Scaffa Rossa in Solaro
Photo: PASCAL POCHARD-CASABIANCA / AFP
For a few days now, the authorities on the French island of Corsica have been tracking in which direction an oil spill in the Mediterranean Sea is moving.
Residues of the oil have now polluted a beach on the holiday island.
Firefighters cleaned the coastal area of the municipality of Solaro on Monday.
The oil was distributed over a length of about 500 meters and a width of 50 centimeters on the beach, said the responsible prefecture.
The pictures showed how several firefighters in white overalls shoveled away the small oil residues on the east coast of Corsica.
On Friday, the oil spill was discovered by aircraft in the Mediterranean off the island.
During more detailed exploratory flights, several oil stains could be seen that stretched for around 35 kilometers.
A spokeswoman for the responsible authority reported on Saturday that the pollution was drifting away from the coast.
Investigators are investigating illegal tank emptying
Access to the beaches and swimming in the area are still strictly prohibited, the prefecture said.
Specially trained emergency services are also fighting an oil disaster with two navy ships at sea.
Almost four tons of oil had been recovered by Sunday.
Authorities suspect that a ship's tank was illegally emptied.
Investigators are now mainly investigating three ships that are in a larger area around the pollution.
The French government had stressed over the weekend that those responsible would be caught and punished.
tfb / dpa