Pollution by petroleum substances on the beaches of Pomerania and West Pomerania

On Monday, the Baltic Sea washed ashore with black, sticky lumps of an unknown petroleum substance. The situation is serious - an almost 50-kilometer section of the coast is at risk, including popular beaches from Rowy in the Pomeranian Voivodeship to Rusinowo and Wicie in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship.

On Tuesday, the Government Security Center sent an alert to residents of the Słupsk district, warning against entering polluted areas.

Beaches closed until further notice

By decision of the Maritime Office in Słupsk, all beaches in the commune and the city of Ustka were closed - this is where the concentration of the dangerous substance is highest. The services urge people to strictly follow signs and instructions, not to approach contaminated places and not to try to remove the contamination on their own. The beaches will remain closed until the waste is completely removed and neutralized.

Who is responsible for the pollution?

According to the director of the Maritime Office in Słupsk, Anna Sędzińska, samples have already been taken for specialized tests to determine the exact composition of the substance. The services also have suspicions about a vessel that may have illegally cleaned its tanks at sea, causing contamination. If the culprit is found, he or she will face severe penalties and the obligation to cover the costs of cleaning and waste disposal.

The campaign to remove hazardous waste from beaches began today. Services equipped with specialized bags collect sticky lumps, which will then be sent to a company dealing with the disposal of petroleum substances. For now, it is not known how long the cleaning will take or what its costs will be - it all depends on the amount and type of contamination.