Russia declared a federal emergency on Thursday over an oil spill caused by two Russian tankers in the Black Sea, the Emergencies Ministry said.

The tankers were hit by a storm on December 15. One split in half and the other ran aground.

The resulting spill has coated sandy beaches at and around Anapa, a popular resort, and caused serious problems for wildlife, including seabirds, dolphins and porpoises. More than 10,000 people have been trying to clear it up.