Environmental Crisis After Ammonium Nitrate Ship Sinks Off the Coast of Yemen
SMA NEWS – TAIZ
The targeting of a ship carrying ammonium nitrate off the coast of the Red Sea has raised warnings of an environmental disaster threatening marine life, coastal residents, and fishermen in Yemen and neighboring countries.
The targeting of the Magic Seas ship, loaded with thousands of tons of chemicals, in the Red Sea by the Houthi group has raised environmental and economic concerns after the ship sank and its cargo leaked into territorial waters.
The Liberian-flagged ship was one of a group of cargo ships carrying 17,000 metric tons of ammonium nitrate, a substance used in the manufacture of fertilizers and explosives. This portends complex environmental repercussions that threaten marine biodiversity and the livelihoods of coastal communities.
Yemeni environmental experts have warned of the potential consequences of this incident, noting that the chemical leaked from the ship could cause widespread environmental disruption, affecting marine life in the Red Sea, directly impacting fish stocks and the health of citizens living near the coast. Experts believe this type of pollution could lead to the shrinkage of coral reefs and seagrass beds, which are important ecosystems for fish reproduction and feeding.
