(TAN): Mauritius is facing an environmental disaster with a wrecked ship leaking thousands of tonnes of fuel oil into the sea. The Mauritius oil spill is undoing years of work to preserve the fragile marine ecosystem in the region.
The ship, Japanese vessel MV Wakashio, ran aground on July 25 and has already leaked around 1,000 tonnes of oil into the waters. Another 2,500 tonnes remain in the vessel.
The Mauritius government on August 7 declared a state of environmental emergency.
The Mauritius oil spill is undoing years of work to preserve the fragile marine ecosystem in the region, some reports said. Tourism is a major revenue generator for Mauritius, which attracts visitors with its coral reefs, white-sand beaches and mesmerising lagoons.
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On August 9, Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth said, “The cracks have grown. The situation is even worse,” he said. “The risk of the boat breaking in half still exists.”
Mitsui OSK Lines, which operates the ship that is owned by another Japanese company, has promised all help. Speaking to reporters in Tokyo, the shipping firm’s vice president, Akihiko Ono, said, “We are terribly sorry.”
While Japan is sending a six-member expert team to deal with the crisis, France is also extending help.
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