Environment Minister Khaled Fahmy ordered swift handling of a 500m oil spill in the Red Sea’s coastal city of Ras Gharib.

Several oil spots have been reported on the shore of town but no tourist institutions are present around, Environment Ministry crisis management official Kawthar Hanafy said.

The geographical location of the shore helps the piling of pollutants, she said, noting that a sample from the oil spill has been taken for testing and to compare it with possible causes of pollution.

Relevant bodies were assigned to remove the oil leakage and scan the shore to ensure that there are no more leaks.