<p>A Russian official said Monday that the sea off the remote Kamchatka peninsula may have been contaminated with toxic chemicals as Greenpeace warned of an "ecological disaster" for marine life.</p>.<p>Greenpeace has described how seawater off the far eastern peninsula changed colour and smell and "hundreds" of dead sea creatures including seals, octopuses and sea urchins washed up onto a black-sanded beach popular with tourists.</p>.<p>Testing around local bays and beaches showed above-permitted levels of phenol and petroleum products, the regional authorities said.</p>.<p>Experts were investigating whether this was linked to "spills of some toxic substances," regional governor Vladimir Solodov said in a statement.</p>.<p>The 38-year-old governor said that inspectors on Tuesday would look at two military testing sites on Kamchatka that could be responsible.</p>.<p>"There are concerns; we will fully examine this tomorrow," he said.</p>.<p>The water pollution came to light late last month after local surfers reported stinging eyes and said the water had changed colour and developed an odour.</p>.<p>Solodov said surfers suffered mild burns to their corneas.</p>.<p>He added that divers had confirmed the deaths of sea creatures and pollution appeared to be spread over a wide area.</p>.<p>Tests on water of a river flowing into the bay showed it did not surpass legal limits, however.</p>.<p>Environmental inspectors and experts from a fisheries and oceanography research centre were set to continue tests.</p>.<p>The pristine peninsula is a popular destination for adventure tourism with its abundance of wildlife and live volcanoes.</p>.<p>Greenpeace said it has contacted state ecological monitors, the armed forces and the Prosecutor-General's office asking for an immediate investigation.</p>.<p>Prosecutors and investigators announced they would carry out checks into whether a crime had been committed but have not any released findings.</p>.<p>The emergencies ministry said it was using boats and drones to monitor the coastline but added that "no pollution is visible."</p>.<p>The incident came as authorities urged tourists not to visit a live volcano on Kamchatka, warning eruption could be imminent.</p>
<p>A Russian official said Monday that the sea off the remote Kamchatka peninsula may have been contaminated with toxic chemicals as Greenpeace warned of an "ecological disaster" for marine life.</p>.<p>Greenpeace has described how seawater off the far eastern peninsula changed colour and smell and "hundreds" of dead sea creatures including seals, octopuses and sea urchins washed up onto a black-sanded beach popular with tourists.</p>.<p>Testing around local bays and beaches showed above-permitted levels of phenol and petroleum products, the regional authorities said.</p>.<p>Experts were investigating whether this was linked to "spills of some toxic substances," regional governor Vladimir Solodov said in a statement.</p>.<p>The 38-year-old governor said that inspectors on Tuesday would look at two military testing sites on Kamchatka that could be responsible.</p>.<p>"There are concerns; we will fully examine this tomorrow," he said.</p>.<p>The water pollution came to light late last month after local surfers reported stinging eyes and said the water had changed colour and developed an odour.</p>.<p>Solodov said surfers suffered mild burns to their corneas.</p>.<p>He added that divers had confirmed the deaths of sea creatures and pollution appeared to be spread over a wide area.</p>.<p>Tests on water of a river flowing into the bay showed it did not surpass legal limits, however.</p>.<p>Environmental inspectors and experts from a fisheries and oceanography research centre were set to continue tests.</p>.<p>The pristine peninsula is a popular destination for adventure tourism with its abundance of wildlife and live volcanoes.</p>.<p>Greenpeace said it has contacted state ecological monitors, the armed forces and the Prosecutor-General's office asking for an immediate investigation.</p>.<p>Prosecutors and investigators announced they would carry out checks into whether a crime had been committed but have not any released findings.</p>.<p>The emergencies ministry said it was using boats and drones to monitor the coastline but added that "no pollution is visible."</p>.<p>The incident came as authorities urged tourists not to visit a live volcano on Kamchatka, warning eruption could be imminent.</p>