December 27, Moscow, Russia (ANI/WAM): A national state of emergency was proclaimed by Moscow on Thursday in response to an oil leak in the Black Sea that was brought on by two different events involving Russian vessels.

The two tankers were struck by a strong storm on December 15 that caused one to split in half and the other to go aground, according to a statement from the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations.

This event led to an oil leak, which seriously harmed animals and contaminated the beaches of the well-known Anapa resort and its environs.

According to the Ministry, around 10,000 workers are attempting to clean up the impacted beaches and control the oil leak.