The Yemeni government has reiterated its warnings against possible disastrous consequences of the explosion or spill at Safer offshore oil platform, which floats off Hodeidah’s northern Red Sea coast.

Information Minister Muammar al-Eryani has listed in a series of tweets the most disastrous consequences.

“We renew our warning against the threats posed by Iran's mercenaries (Houthi militias) who continue to prevent the United Nations panel of experts from inspecting and maintaining Safer oil tanker.”

Any explosion at Safer will cause a catastrophic oil spill with irreversible environmental damage.

Eryani explained that in case of a leak due to the corrosion of the oil tanker, technical reports indicate the estimation of 138 million liters of crude oil spill in the Red Sea.

He pointed out that this would be four times worse than the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill disaster in Alaska, stressing that the region still did not fully recover after almost 30 years from the incident.

He also noted that the tanker’s explosion would lead to closing Hodeidah port for several months, which would cause shortages in fuel and needs, as well as a rise in fuel prices by 800 percent and the doubling of the prices of goods and food.

“Such an explosion will cost Yemeni economic fishing stocks $60 million a year or $1.5 billion over the next 25 years.”

Eryani said the possibility of the oil tanker’s burning would affect three million people in Hodeidah.

He added that 500,000 people who work in the fishing sector will need food aid, while fish stocks may take 25 years to recover.

According to Eryani, when the toxic gas mixes with rainwater from the fire, it may end up in the aquifers, which would lead to slow poisoning and health problems for six million people

Also four percent of the productive agricultural land in Yemen will be covered with black clouds, which would kill the estimated $70 million-worth grains, fruits, and vegetables.AFP