• UK
  • World
    • USA
  • Entertainment
    • Celeb
    • Showbiz
    • Magazine
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Gaming
  • Tech
  • Science
    • Education
  • Insurance
  • Business
  • Auto
  • ToS/Contact
    • ToS
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
NewsExplored
  • UK
  • World
    • USA
  • Entertainment
    • Celeb
    • Showbiz
    • Magazine
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Gaming
  • Tech
  • Science
    • Education
  • Insurance
  • Business
  • Auto
  • ToS/Contact
    • ToS
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • LinkedIn

  • Tumblr

  • RSS

Science

MV Wakashio: Locals in Mauritius try to stop oil spill

MV Wakashio: Locals in Mauritius try to stop oil spill
Newsexplored
9th August 2020
5
SHARES
ShareTweet
SubscribeRedditGoogleWhatsappStumbleuponPinterestDiggLinkedinTumblrTelegram
Views:
5
A view of the oil coming ashore on the islandImage copyright Virtual Tour of Mauritius/REUTERS
Image caption The tanker is leaking tonnes of oil into surrounding waters

Volunteers in Mauritius are scrambling to create cordons to keep leaking oil from a tanker away from the island.

MV Wakashio ran aground on a coral reef off the Indian Ocean island on 25 July. The tanker has since begun leaking tonnes of oil into surrounding waters.

Locals are creating straw tubes in an attempt to contain and absorb the oil.

Mauritius is home to world-renowned coral reefs, and tourism is a crucial part of the nation’s economy. There are concerns about the island’s eco-system.

Images posted online by local media show volunteers creating straw tubes to act as a barrier. Some people have been collecting the straw from fields to battle the spill.

Others have been making their own tubes with tights and hair to add to the effort.

Volunteers have also been working on cleaning up the island’s beaches.

“People have realised that they need to take things into their hands. We are here to protect our fauna and flora,” Ashok Subron, an environmental activist told AFP news agency.

Image copyright Maxar Technologies/Reuters
Image caption Satellite images show the extent of the oil spill

Mitsui OSK Lines, the operators of the ship, said they have tried to place their own containment booms around the vessel but have not been successful due to rough seas.

Helicopters are attempting to move some of the fuel and diesel off the ship.

It is thought that the ship, registered in Panama, had some 4,000 tonnes of fuel aboard when it ran aground. All staff on board were evacuated.

data-ad-format="auto">

At least 1,000 tonnes of oil is thought to have leaked into the waters surrounding the island nation.

  • Mauritius declares emergency as ship leaks oil
  • Mauritius country profile

Environmentalists are concerned about the impact on the country’s ecosystem.

Happy Khamule from Greenpeace Africa warned that “thousands” of animal species were “at risk of drowning in a sea of pollution, with dire consequences for Mauritius’ economy, food security and health”.

Image copyright Virtual Tour of Mauritius/REUTERS
Image caption At least 1,000 tonnes of oil is thought to have leaked from the vessel so far

In a news conference, Akihiko Ono, executive vice president of Mitsui OSK Lines “profusely” apologised for the spill and for “the great trouble we have caused”.


He vowed that the company would do “everything in their power to resolve the issue”.

On Friday, Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth declared a state of emergency and appealed for help.

France has sent a military aircraft with pollution control equipment from its nearby island of Reunion.

Mr Jugnauth is set to hold an emergency meeting later on Sunday amid fears that bad weather could further complicate efforts to hold back the oil.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Share on Skype (Opens in new window)

Related

Related Itemslocalsmauritiusspillwakashio
Science
9th August 2020
Newsexplored @newsexploredweb

Related Itemslocalsmauritiusspillwakashio

More in Science

  • Read More
    What’s the science behind closing schools?

    Views:5 By Will FyfeBBC News media captionDr Heather Payne says school drop off and pick-ups created “social...

    Newsexplored 9th August 2020
  • Read More
    Coronavirus: Virus provides leaps in scientific understanding

    Views:5 By Victoria GillScience correspondent, BBC News image copyrightGetty Images image captionA worker takes away an escaped...

    Newsexplored 9th August 2020
  • Read More
    What is Elon Musk’s Starship?

    Views:5 By Paul RinconScience editor, BBC News website image copyrightGetty Images image captionSpaceX has been developing a...

    Newsexplored 9th August 2020
  • Read More
    Cancelled exams are a ‘big disappointment’

    Views:5 image captionJake did not want exams to be cancelled “It’s a big disappointment,” says 17-year-old Jake...

    Newsexplored 9th August 2020
  • Read More
    Hawaiian shirts and gravy: Christmas tributes for loved ones lost to Covid

    Views:5 Christmas is different for everyone this year but especially for the thousands of UK families who...

    Newsexplored 9th August 2020
  • Read More
    Giant Antarctic iceberg A68a is not done yet

    Views:5 By Jonathan AmosBBC Science Correspondent media captionSee how the keel of the giant iceberg has changed...

    Newsexplored 9th August 2020
  • Read More
    England ‘significant decline’ in global science tests

    Views:5 By Sean CoughlanBBC News family and education correspondent image copyrightTIMSS image captionThe maths and science tests...

    Newsexplored 9th August 2020
  • Read More
    Covid: Some students not back until February next term

    Views:5 By Sean CoughlanBBC News family and education correspondent image copyrightReuters image captionStudents have been taking Covid...

    Newsexplored 9th August 2020
  • Read More
    Covid: How might GCSE and A-levels work this summer?

    Views:5 By Branwen JeffreysEducation Editor image copyrightGetty Images A-levels and GCSEs in England are due to go...

    Newsexplored 9th August 2020
  • Read More
    Special educational needs support ‘offered after exclusion’

    Views:5 By Kayleen DevlinBBC Ouch image copyrightEmily image captionEmily says she feels let down by the system...

    Newsexplored 9th August 2020
  • Read More
    Sentinel-6: ‘Dog kennel’ satellite blasts off on ocean mission

    Views:5 By Jonathan AmosBBC Science Correspondent Related Topics media captionArtwork: The unusual shape, with fixed solar panels,...

    Newsexplored 9th August 2020
  • Read More
    Electric vehicles: Your questions answered

    Views:5 By Justin RowlattChief environment correspondent image copyrightReuters image captionIn a decade, you won’t be able to...

    Newsexplored 9th August 2020
Scroll for more
Tap
data-ad-format="auto">
NewsExplored

NewsExplored - Making sure all the latest news is explored?

Contact us for help

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • Comments

  • Bridgerton: Everything you need to know about the Netflix drama
    Entertainment25th December 2020
  • The Papers: ‘Fortress Britain’ and ‘modern miracle workers’
    UK15th January 2021
  • Australian Open: Heather Watson among 47 players to quarantine in Melbourne after Covid cases on flights
    Sports16th January 2021
  • Fifa 21 and Frozen 2 top digital sales of 2020
    Tech8th January 2021
  • Kamala Harris: What the vice-president did on her first day
    USA21st January 2021
  • Biden inauguration: New president to be sworn in amid Trump snub
    USA20th January 2021
  • Biden inauguration: Democrat to be sworn in as Trump leaves office
    USA20th January 2021
  • Biden inauguration rehearsal paused amid US Capitol lockdown
    USA18th January 2021
  • Les Rehrer says:

    Hello Its me :P and thanks for this post

  • optumrx login says:

    Thank For News.

  • Kent Laatsch says:

    Please let me know if you're looking for a writer…

  • Bob says:

    RT News was where I learned that Erdogan controlled isis.…

Copyright © 2018 Top News Theme. Theme by MVP Themes, powered by Wordpress.

Lockdown: Label showing plants safe for bees and butterflies
Angling Trust founder Dr Stephen Marsh-Smith dies aged 69
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok