The Minister of Tourism and Environment Fikri Ataoğlu on Thursday warned of the environmental impact the oil slick from Syria will have in the seas surrounding the island.

He said that despite the fact the slick had drifted away from the island, the oil which has sunk down to sea bottom will have an immense impact on marine life.

Speaking on BRT, Ataoğlu said that a report will also be prepared to outline which areas the TRNC is lacking in and what kinds of means need to be acquired to prevent such disasters in the future.

The TRNC Tourism Minister said that it will not be possible to collect parts of the oil as most of it had lost its ability to stick, either evaporating or sinking to the bottom of the sea as tar.

He added that this did not mean the tar will not make its way to the island’s beaches.

“Nevertheless, an important disaster was averted in terms of the environment and the tourism sector. The golden sands beach and other sites along the eastern coastline which are important breeding grounds for turtles were spared. The tourism sector would have been dealt a serious blow,” Ataoğlu added.