Salalah – Authorities in Dhofar are continuing intensive cleanup operations following an oil spill incident affecting parts of the coastline from Khor Salalah to the Hilton Hotel on Awqad Beach and the western section of Raysut Beach. Officials have confirmed that no new leaks have been detected in the impacted areas.

Technical teams from the Directorate General of Environment in Dhofar, in coordination with Dhofar Municipality and other relevant agencies, are carrying out the response as per the National Response Plan. The effort includes cooperation with Port of Salalah and specialised environmental protection firms.

As part of the response, inspections were conducted on nearby beaches to confirm these remain free of contamination. For public safety, access to some sections of the affected beaches was temporarily restricted, with support from Royal Oman Police.

Zahran bin Ahmed al Abdelsalam, Acting Director General of Environment Directorate in Dhofar, said the rapid response helped contain the spill and limit its spread. Cleanup efforts have been ongoing for several days, restoring beach areas to their original state.

He said teams are not only removing visible oil traces but also taking steps to protect marine and coastal ecosystems, highlighting the ecological and economic significance of the area. Targeted surveys identified pollution hotspots, allowing for a focused response using manual and mechanical methods.

Abdelsalam commended the coordinated efforts of all involved, including Dhofar Governor’s Office, Royal Oman Police, military units and Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority, noting that joint action was critical to the effectiveness of the response.

Mamdouh bin Salem al Marhoon, Director of Environmental Emergency Centre, stated that the National Oil Pollution Control Plan (Level II) was activated immediately after the incident was identified on Sunday. This facilitated rapid mobilisation of resources and streamlined coordination among stakeholders. He added that discussions are underway with regional and international bodies to determine the source of the spill and pursue legal action if necessary. Hatem bin Salem al Mahri, Acting Director of Nature Conservation Department, said field operations continue to eliminate residual pollution. Monitoring teams are assessing affected areas to ensure full recovery of the coastal environment and reduce risk of recurrence.