'We're expecting the worst': Fears damaged ship leaking oil into Mauritius sea could break in half
Efforts have been stepped up to empty a stranded tanker carrying an estimated 2,500 tons of oil before it breaks up and further contaminates the once-pristine coastline of Mauritius.
The Japanese bulk carrier MV Wakashio has already caused untold damage to the protected waters around the island since it ran aground on a coral reef two weeks ago.
The weather is hampering efforts to minimise a potentially catastrophic disaster as high winds and waves pound the ship.
More than 1,000 tons of fuel have already washed up on the eastern coast of Mauritius, polluting its coral reefs, protected lagoons and shoreline.
The ship is now showing signs of breaking up and dumping its remaining cargo of oil into the Indian Ocean.
“We are expecting the worst,” said Jean Hugues Gardenne of the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation.
“The ship is showing really big, big cracks.
"We believe it will break into two at any time, at the maximum within two days,” Mr Gardenne said.
“So much oil remains in the ship, so the disaster could become much worse.
"It’s important to remove as much oil as possible.
"Helicopters are taking out the fuel little by little, ton by ton.”
French experts have arrived from the nearby island of Reunion and are deploying booms to try to contain any new oil spill after Mauritius appealed for international help.
The booms will boost the improvised barriers that thousands of volunteers in Mauritius created from fabric tubes stuffed with straw and sugar cane leaves.
Efforts are also underway to get other ships close enough to pump large amounts of oil out of the Japanese bulk carrier.
“The danger of the ship breaking into two is increasing hour by hour,” said Sunil Dowarkasing, an environmental consultant and former member of parliament in Mauritius.
“The cracks have now reached the base of the ship and there is still a lot of fuel on the ship.
"Two ships are headed to the site so that fuel can be pumped into them, but it is very difficult.”
The Japanese-owned ship ran aground on July 25 but work to remove its oil only started last week when the ship cracked and started emptying the fuel into the sea.
Pressure is mounting on the government of Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth to explain why it did not take immediate action to avert the environmental disaster.
The opposition and activists are calling for the resignation of the environment and fisheries ministers.
Volunteers have ignored a government order to leave the clean-up operation to local officials.
On Sunday, Tokyo said it would send a six-member expert team to assist.
“The Japanese should be doing more right now,” said Mr Dowarkasing.
“They should send in experts who know how to deal with international oil spills immediately.”