Thousands of volunteers and soldiers are trying to clean Israel’s beaches after dozens of tons of tar  from a suspected oil spill polluted areas across a 120-mile stretch. 

Israelis were ordered to stay away from the coast in what the country’s nature and parks authority called “one of the most serious ecological disasters” in its history. 

Israeli planes have been searching for the source of the spill which is believed to come from one of nine ships.. 

A 17-metre fin whale, whose body watched up on shore at the end of last last week, is believed to be the largest casualty, while environmentalists have been trying to save tar-covered birds and turtles. 

Environmental Protection Minister Gila Gamliel has saud  “This is hazard of a magnitude we have not seen in years. We are doing everything in order to find those responsible for the destruction, and are preparing for the difficult and long task of rehabilitating the beaches and preventing further injury to animals.” 

The oil spill is thought to have happened during a storm 11 days ago some 30 miles off the coast. 

Experts believe it could take months to clear up.

Environmentalist Professor Alon Tal of Tel Aviv University warned on i24news, "We need to be aware that this problem of tghe Mediterranean Sea which has so much traffic is only going to get worse."