A serious oil spill incident has been reported off the coast of Al-Buraiqeh district in Aden, Yemen, after a vessel known as “Brake Water” suffered structural damage, leading to a leak of engine oil into the sea.

The spill occurred near Al-Haswa Beach, west of Aden, where the ship—anchored for an extended period—experienced hull corrosion and partial submersion, allowing seawater to flood its engine room. The leaked oil was then carried by strong southwestern monsoon currents toward the shoreline, contaminating the coastal waters and threatening marine life.

Environmental researcher Rashidi Mahmoud warned that this is not an isolated event, noting that abandoned and deteriorating vessels in the area have repeatedly caused similar spills in recent years. He described these ships as “floating time bombs”, posing a long-term threat to the Gulf of Aden’s fragile marine ecosystem.

The incident has reignited concerns over Yemen’s limited environmental oversight and the growing risk of chronic marine pollution, which could devastate fisheries and the livelihoods of coastal communities if left unaddressed.