Greenpeace concerned as oil tankers on fire in Gulf of Oman

Following a suspected collision between two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman, Greenpeace is warning of devastating consequences for the environment.

"An oil spill like the one now threatening the Gulf of Oman affects not only individual animal species, but the entire marine ecosystem," Thilo Maack, marine biologist at Greenpeace Germany, told dpa on Tuesday.

According to the expert, dolphins, sea turtles and coastal birds are particularly sensitive to the toxic oil.

"Fish larvae and other plankton - the basis of the marine food chain - are also at risk of mass extinction," said Maack.

According to the environmental organization, the tanker Adalynn involved in the collision is part of the so-called Russian shadow fleet.

The 23-year-old ship is on the list of the world's most dangerous tankers published by Greenpeace last year under a previous name.

Iranian media reported a security incident in the Gulf of Oman on Tuesday morning.

Several oil tankers are said to have caught fire not far from the coast of the United Arab Emirates, Iranian state radio reported.

A connection with the war between Israel and Iran was not initially confirmed. According to later reports, the ships collided.