Mauritius struggles to contain massive oil spill polluting its seas
PORT LOUIS : Thousands of Mauritians raced to contain a catastrophic oil spill swamping its pristine ocean and beaches on Sunday as frustration mounts over why more wasn’t done to prevent the ecological disaster.
The bulk carrier MV Wakashio has been seeping fuel into a protected marine park boasting unspoiled coral reefs, mangrove forests and endangered species, prompting the government to declare an unprecedented environmental emergency.
Attempts to stabilise the stricken vessel, which ran aground on July 25 but only started leaking oil this week, and pump 4,000 tonnes of fuel from its hold have failed, and local authorities fear rough seas could further rupture the tanker.
Japan said on Sunday it would send a six-member expert team to assist, joining France which dispatched a
JAPAN SAID ON SUNDAY IT WOULD SEND A SIX-MEMBER EXPERT TEAM TO ASSIST
naval vessel and military aircraft from nearby Reunion Island.
Conservationists say the damage may have already been done.
Aerial images show the enormous scale of the disaster, with huge stretches of azure seas around the marooned cargo ship stained a deep inky black, and the region’s fabled lagoons and inlets clouded over.
Thick muck has inundated unspoiled marine habitats and white-sand beaches, causing what experts say is irreparable damage to the fragile coastal ecosystem upon which Mauritius relies.