Oil spill in the turquoise waters of Mauritius

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2 min

Mauritius is facing its most serious ecological disaster in its history. An oil spill, which began Thursday morning, is affecting the southeast of the island. The bulk carrier "MV Wakashio" with 3,800 tonnes of fuel oil in its reserves ran aground in the territorial waters of the island. Little equipped for this kind of situation, Mauritius appealed to friendly countries.

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With our correspondent in Port-Louis , Abdoollah Earally 

The Panamanian-flagged vessel ran aground on July 26 in the territorial waters of Mauritius, stuck on a coral reef at Pointe d'Esny, in the south-east of the island, a picturesque region like the entire coastline. 

An intervention and protection plan was launched without delay. However, the weather conditions deteriorated with the presence of two successive highs in this part of the Indian Ocean. This further delayed the intervention of foreign rescue teams. 

Meanwhile, wise voices were warning the authorities against the risk of an environmental disaster.

The worst happened on Thursday morning with a breach in the hull of the bulk carrier and a disastrous oil leak for at least five villages in the southeast, including Pointe d'Esny, Pointe Jérôme, Mahebourg and Rivière des Créoles.   

The buoys deployed were largely insufficient to contain tons of fuel that turned the turquoise waters of Mauritius into an oil spill and which now threaten ecological sanctuaries like the Blue Bay Marine Park and Ile aux Aigrettes, a protected islet that is home to endemic plants as well as the Gros Cateaux Verts, an endangered species of bird. The spectacle is depressing for the population.

The sinking of the #Wakashio represents a danger for Mauritius. Our country does not have the skills and expertise to refloat stranded ships, so I asked for help from #France to @EmmanuelMacron. pic.twitter.com/30m2pQzEy4

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• Mauritius
• Environment
• Pollution