Mauritius declares ‘Environment Emergency’ over oil spill from stranded vessel
Mauritius declared a “state of environmental emergency” late on Friday (August 7) after several tons of fuel began to leak from a ship owned by Japan stranded offshore. This was announced by Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth after images taken from the satellite showed dark oily matter spreading in blue waters near environmental areas that the government described as “extremely sensitive”.
Mauritius said the vessel was carrying about 4,000 tonnes of fuel and cracks have formed at its hull. Mauritius PM Jugnauth had earlier in the afternoon said that his government was appealing to France for help. He also said that the leak was “a threat” to his country with a population of 1.3 million, largely dependent on tourism and that the global pandemic caused by the corona virus had severely affected the tourism industry .
“Our country does not have the skills and expertise to re-float stranded ships, so I have appealed to France and President Emanuel Macron for help,” he said. He said that bad weather made it impossible to take action and “I am worried about what will happen on Sunday (9 August) when the weather gets worse”.
France’s Reunion Island is a close neighbor of Mauritius and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that France is Mauritius’ “major foreign investor” and one of its large trade partners. The Mauritius Meteorological Service said “there is extreme danger in the sea. It is advisable not to go to sea. “
