The depollution of the beaches of the Var affected by pellets or oil cakes probably stranded after the collision of two ships off Corsica two weeks ago, "take months" and continued Sunday, said the prefecture .
Several municipalities of the Var, the Porquerolles Islands in Sainte-Maxime and the Gulf of Saint-Tropez have been soiled for over a week by pellets and oil cakes. In question the collision between a Tunisian ro-ro ship and a Cypriot container ship on Sunday, October 7, off Corsica. The 600-ton slick of propulsion oil escaping from the container ship has stained many beaches.
"The cleaning operations of the beaches of Sainte-Maxime, Ramatuelle and the island of Porquerolles are underway," said Sunday Emmanuel Cayron, chief of staff of the prefect of Var. In Saint-Tropez, the operation prevented by a demonstration, will resume Monday, as Bormes-les-Mimosas where pollution is "less important," he said.
Sixty-six beaches of Sainte-Maxime in Ramatuelle and Porquerolles are affected
At the Croix-Valmer, the jagged rocky coast, requires a specific intervention, he also stressed. The municipalities of Gassin, Cogolin and Grimaud, also affected by pollution, were placed this weekend "under surveillance" after a surface cleaning. "A specialized company will intervene as in other cities for a deeper and finer cleaning , " added Mr. Cayron. "It's a long job. The treatment of all sites not only surface will take several months, " he warned. A total of 26 beaches of 9 municipalities were affected by pollution, said Friday evening the prefecture. 150 people are mobilized for the cleaning of these beaches closed to the public at the beginning of holidays of All Saints.
Avoid walking on the beaches
"We ask the public not to go to the beaches because the trampling accentuates the pollution and transports it" , warned Mr. Cayron while the holidays begin under a sunny sky in the South of France. People are also asked not to touch or pick up pancakes. Thursday, during the launch of clean-up operations, the prefect of Var, Jean-Luc Videlaine, had indicated that "the analysis" will give the "product signature" , without hiding his conviction that the pollution came from the collision of the ro-ro Tunisian Ulysses and the container ship Cypriot Virginia collided on October 7 off Corsica.