Mauritius asks France for help

JOHANNESBURG — The prime minister of Mauritius says the government is appealing to France for help with a brewing environmental disaster after a Japanese-owned ship that ran aground almost two weeks ago off the Indian Ocean island nation began spilling oil.

The spill “represents a danger for Mauritius,” Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth said Friday in a statement posted on social media. Jugnauth shared a photo of the vessel, the MV Wakashio, tilted precariously as a dark slick spread in the turquoise waters from cracks that have appeared in the hull.