KARACHI, Aug 17: Following closure of the Clifton beach due to the oil slick caused by spillage from Tasman Spirit, the Greek vessel that ran aground on July 27, holiday makers have turned to the beaches of Sandspit and Hawkesbay leading to an extraordinary rush there.

The 14-kilometre long Clifton beach has been closed to public since Aug 13 and law-enforcement personnel are deployed along the coastline following the spillage.

So far, the oil slick has not reached the waters of Sandspit and Hawkesbay and people may still enjoy the clean and clear beach, said Zafar Khan, in-charge of the Emergency Response Centre of the Firebrigade Department at Hawkesbay. A similar rush was witnessed at these beaches on Aug 14, Independence Day.

An estimated over 50,000 picnickers usually visit the 22-km-long stretch of the coastline, starting from Sandspit and ending at the Neelam point, on holidays in summer.

However, closure of the Clifton beach has badly affected those who frequently visit Clifton beach using public transport.