"We have so far recovered about 6,000 tonnes of oil," Karachi Port Trust's general manager Brigadier Iftikhar Arsahd told AFP.

The Greek-registered MV Tasman Spirit has leaked 12,000 tonnes of crude since running aground off the commerical port on July 27, a KPT official told AFP. Last Wednesday it began breaking up and is now split in two.

When it began breaking up last week the tanker still had 35,000 tonnes of oil on board in two separate containers. An operation to transfer the remaining cargo began Sunday and is expected to take up to 10 days.

The spillage has destroyed young mangroves, turtles and fish along Karachi's 16 kilometer (10 mile) coastline.

The city's popular Clifton Beach has been badly polluted by the spill, triggering an exodus of residents.

Council workers have been scraping up oily sand with their hands, tractors and mechanical shovels since the weekend.

"My duty is to dredge oily sand from the beach everyday for eight hours, but it makes me scared because I don't have any mask or preventive glasses. My handkerchief is my protection," said Abdul Rehman, 15, one of around 100 workers scouring the beach.

Resident Anwar Mahmood said he has had to abandon his morning jog on the beach.

"I used to jog every day along with hundreds of men and women, boys and girls in a pleasant environment, but the beach now gives a foul stink like sewerage water," he told AFP.

"Now you can not even open your window."

Rahim Khaskeli, who has been offering joy rides to kids on his horse and camel says he lost his business as people deserted the beach.

"Sunday used to be the most lucrative day for me, but this weekend, I had only one visitor. I cannot even feed my camel and horse. I may go to somewhere else," he told AFP.

Restaurants and hotels along the beach have been closed and police have barricaded roads to keep visitors away.

The oil spill was causing health complaints amongst residents and workers in the coastal area.

Doctor Qamar Manzoor said he had been receiving 30 to 35 patients daily with complaints of throat, skin and eye infections.

The authorities have closed educational facilities in the area for three days due to "environmental hazard," officials said.

TERRA.WIRE