Mauritius Declared A State Of Environmental Emergency Over Oil Spill

Port Louis: The island of Mauritius declared an environmental emergency late Friday over an oil spill caused by a Japanese-owned ship that was stranded off the coast days ago.

🔴🇲🇺 Marée Noir à l’île Maurice : Suivi de la situation inquiétante. #Mauritius #Maurice #MaréeNoire #CatastropheNaturelle
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— MU (@Press_MU) August 7, 2020

Nearly 400 sea booms have been deployed to control the spill and the police are looking into causes, including possible negligence, the government of Mauritius said in a statement.

Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth announced the development as satellite images showed a dark slick spreading in the turquoise waters near environmental areas that the government called “very sensitive. Mauritius has said the ship was carrying nearly 4,000 tons of fuel and cracks have appeared in its hull.

Mauritius has said the ship was carrying nearly 4,000 tons of fuel and cracks have appeared in its hull.