A large number of tar balls are being washed up on the eastern beaches of Hulhumale'.
Environment Protection Agency (EPA) Director General Ibrahim Naeem told Mihaaru that they are aware of the issue, and have notified Urbanco to clean the beaches.
Tar balls are formed when crude oils react with water to form a sticky emulsion, which over time is broken into smaller pieces, or 'tar balls', through wind and wave actions.
Naeem explained that tar balls have been found washed up on beaches in different islands previously as well. He said that the prevalence of tar balls washing up is higher during certain seasons, and that some researches have been conducted on the matter.
Although tar balls are not dangerous, direct contact may cause skin irritations.
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