A relief for the inhabitants. The Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Jugnauth, announced Wednesday that "all the fuel oil has been pumped from the tanks" of the ship stranded at the end of July on a reef near the south-eastern coast of Mauritius and in the origin of marine pollution.
“It was a race against the clock and I salute the tremendous work done to prevent another oil spill,” added Pravind Jugnauth, adding that only around 100 tonnes of hydrocabures remain on board. The bulk carrier threatens to snap in half at any time.
The boat was carrying 4,000 tonnes of oil
Since the end of last week, intervention teams have been busy on the boat, in particular with the help of a helicopter, to pump the hydrocarbons still present in the ship's tanks.
In total, the MV Wakashio, belonging to a Japanese shipowner, was carrying 3,800 tonnes of fuel oil and 200 tonnes of diesel.
"About 800 tonnes were dumped into the sea"
It struck a reef at Pointe d'Esny on July 25, but fuel oil had only started to escape from its shattered sides last week.
According to the Prime Minister, "around 800 tonnes were dumped into the sea" to reach the coast of Mauritius.
The pollution has provoked an impressive outpouring of solidarity among the 1.3 million inhabitants of this archipelago in the Indian Ocean.
Thousands of them have been at work for several days to collect oil and try to contain pollution by making and deploying floating socks in the water.
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