Oil spill in Mauritius declared 'environmental emergency'

A "state of environmental emergency" has been declared in Mauritius after a ship that got stuck too close to the shore began spilling tonnes of oil.

Mauritius is an island in the Indian Ocean, close to the the French island of Reunion

The country's Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth said the spill "represents a danger" to the country of around 1.3 million people already suffering from the coronavirus pandemic.

There are also fears about how the oil could affect local wildlife.

Workers are trying to clean up the oil from the spill

Wildlife workers and volunteers have carried dozens of baby tortoises and rare plants from Ile aux Aigrettes, an island near to the spill, to the mainland to protect them.

The ship called MV Wakashio got stuck on a coral reef off the Indian Ocean island on 25 July and its crew was evacuated.

It carrying 200 tonnes of diesel and 3,800 tonnes of heavy oil, and was travelling from China to Brazil.

Satellite images show the vessel leaking fuel off Mauritius

Efforts to stabilise the ship and pump out oil have been unsuccessful because of rough seas, and there are fears that bad weather on Sunday could could tear the Japanese-owned ship apart along its cracked hull.

Mr Jugnauth has asked France's President Emmanuel Macron for help to refloat the ship, because he says Mauritius "doesn't have the skills and expertise" to do it alone.

"When biodiversity is in peril, there is urgency to act," French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted on Saturday.

France's Reunion Island said a military transport aircraft was carrying pollution control equipment to Mauritius and a navy vessel with additional material would also set sail.

The ship was en route from China to Brazil when it ran aground

Greenpeace Africa's climate and energy manager, Happy Khambule, said in a statement that tonnes of diesel and oil are now leaking into the water.

"Thousands of species around the pristine lagoons of Blue Bay, Pointe d'Esny and Mahebourg are at risk of drowning in a sea of pollution, with dire consequences for Mauritius' economy, food security and health," Mr Khambule said.

Mauritius depends on its seas for food and tourism, having some of the finest coral reefs in the world.

It is also one of the world's biggest exporters of tuna fish.

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