The sinking of a bulk carrier off Yemen after a Houthi missile attack poses grave environmental risks as thousands of tonnes of fertilizer threaten to spill into the Red Sea, officials and experts warn.
Leaking fuel and the chemical pollutant could harm marine life, including coral reefs, and impact coastal communities that rely on fishing for their livelihoods, they said.
The Belize-flagged, Lebanese-operated Rubymar sank on Saturday with 21,000 metric tonnes of ammonium phosphate sulfate fertiliser on board, according to US Central Command.
It had been taking in water since a Houthi missile strike on February 18 damaged its hull, marking the most significant impact on a commercial ship since the group started targeting vessels in November.
After already leaving a slick from leaking fuel while it was still afloat, the Rubymar now poses a new set of environmental threats under water.
Abdulsalam al-Jaabi of the Yemeni government's environmental protection agency warned of "double pollution" that could impact 78,000 fishermen and their families -- up to half a million people.
"The first pollution is oil pollution resulting from the large amount of fuel oil on board," he said, estimating the quantity to be over 200 tonnes.
The second risk is posed by the fertilizer, which is highly soluble and could harm "fish and living organisms such as coral reefs and seaweed" if released into the sea, Jaabi added.
The overall contamination could incur "significant economic costs", especially on coastal communities that depend on fishing for survival, the official warned.
The Rubymar is the first ship to sink since the Houthis started their Red Sea campaign which they say is in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza amid the Israel-Hamas war.
UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg said five experts from the United Nations Environment Program are due in Yemen this week to conduct an assessment in coordination with the Yemeni environment ministry.
