AMMAN - Authorities late Thursday were trying to contain an oil slick near Aqaba that emerged earlier in the day, as investigations were still under way to determine the source of the spill and its impact on marine life.

Teams from the Royal Marine Conservation Society (JREDS) discovered the oil spill on Thursday morning and alerted authorities, JREDS Director Fadi Sharaiha said.

“The source of the oil is yet to be found. We are currently studying the affected area and trying to contain the pollution,” Sharaiha told The Jordan Times, noting that the oil slick affected “a few kilometres in the southern beach”.

The Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) had begun cleaning up the spill by around 2:00pm, and Ben Hayyan Laboratory took several water samples for testing, according to JREDS.

Sharaiha highlighted that the Prince Hamzah Club, an affiliate of the Aqaba Ports Corporation, was also helping handle the oil spillage.

A source familiar with the incident told The Jordan Times that he saw snorkellers emerging from the Japanese Gardens dive site covered in oil Thursday afternoon.

The source, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, said the spill was caused by a pipe malfunction while a tanker was offloading oil.

ASEZA’s environment officials were not available yesterday for comment on the incident, but sources at the authority confirmed the oil contamination to The Jordan Times and said the authority was trying to contain the oil slick.