Photos: Wrecked ship off Mauritius’ coast splits in two

By HT Correspondent

Updated On Aug 18, 2020 11:36 am IST

The Japanese bulk carrier MV Wakashio which had been oozing its stores of around 4,000 tonnes of oil off the coast of Mauritius broke in two over the weekend. The oil spill, the worst in the history of the island nation located in the India Ocean, threatens a protected marine park with mangrove forests and endangered species. The Mauritian economy, which relies on tourists who flock to its white-sand beaches, is already reeling from the coronavirus fallout and may be further affected by the spill.

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A view of the MV Wakashio bulk carrier, belonging to a Japanese company but Panamanian-flagged, that had run aground near Blue Bay Marine Park, off the coast of south-east Mauritius, on August 17. MV Wakashio split in two on August 15 after leaking more than 1,000 tonnes of oil or 25% of its stores, in pristine waters off the coast of Mauritius. (AFP)

Updated on Aug 18, 2020 11:36 am IST

A view of the MV Wakashio bulk carrier, belonging to a Japanese company but Panamanian-flagged, that had run aground near Blue Bay Marine Park, off the coast of south-east Mauritius, on August 17. MV Wakashio split in two on August 15 after leaking more than 1,000 tonnes of oil or 25% of its stores, in pristine waters off the coast of Mauritius. (AFP)

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Iridescence on the water at the beach in Petit Bel Air, due to the oil leaked from vessel MV Wakashio on August 15. The bulk carrier MV Wakashio had run aground on a coral reef off the southeastern coast of Mauritius on July 25 and began oozing oil more than a week later, threatening a protected marine park boasting mangrove forests and endangered species. (Fabien Dubessay / AFP)

Updated on Aug 18, 2020 11:36 am IST

Iridescence on the water at the beach in Petit Bel Air, due to the oil leaked from vessel MV Wakashio on August 15. The bulk carrier MV Wakashio had run aground on a coral reef off the southeastern coast of Mauritius on July 25 and began oozing oil more than a week later, threatening a protected marine park boasting mangrove forests and endangered species. (Fabien Dubessay / AFP)

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Workers collect leaked oil at the beach in Riviere des Creoles on August 15 in Mauritius. The island nation has declared an environmental emergency and salvage crews are racing against the clock to pump the remaining 3,000 tonnes of oil off the stricken vessel. (Fabien Dubessay / AFP)

Updated on Aug 18, 2020 11:36 am IST

Workers collect leaked oil at the beach in Riviere des Creoles on August 15 in Mauritius. The island nation has declared an environmental emergency and salvage crews are racing against the clock to pump the remaining 3,000 tonnes of oil off the stricken vessel. (Fabien Dubessay / AFP)

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Mangroves stained by the leaking oil that managed to reach the beach in Petit Bel Air in Mauritius on August 15. The spill already qualifies as the “worst ecological disaster” for the Indian Ocean island nation, Greenpeace Africa campaigner Happy Khambule told AFP, adding that it “puts unique species under immediate threats.” (Fabien Dubessay / AFP)

Updated on Aug 18, 2020 11:36 am IST

Mangroves stained by the leaking oil that managed to reach the beach in Petit Bel Air in Mauritius on August 15. The spill already qualifies as the “worst ecological disaster” for the Indian Ocean island nation, Greenpeace Africa campaigner Happy Khambule told AFP, adding that it “puts unique species under immediate threats.” (Fabien Dubessay / AFP)

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Volunteers make oil barriers to absorb leaked oil from the MV Wakashio bulk carrier on August 14. Thousands of Mauritians have volunteered day and night to clean the powder-blue waters that have long been a favourite among honeymooners and tourists. (Sumeer Mudhoo / L’Express Maurice / AFP)

Updated on Aug 18, 2020 11:36 am IST

Volunteers make oil barriers to absorb leaked oil from the MV Wakashio bulk carrier on August 14. Thousands of Mauritians have volunteered day and night to clean the powder-blue waters that have long been a favourite among honeymooners and tourists. (Sumeer Mudhoo / L’Express Maurice / AFP)

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Workers install oil absorbent booms to protect the beach from spilled oil, off the coast of Mahebourg on August 16. Now that the ship has split, a salvage team intends to pull the front two-thirds out to sea using two tugboats to avoid further damage to the Mauritian coastline, a police official in the capital Port Louis told AFP. (Fabien Dubessay / AFP)

Updated on Aug 18, 2020 11:36 am IST

Workers install oil absorbent booms to protect the beach from spilled oil, off the coast of Mahebourg on August 16. Now that the ship has split, a salvage team intends to pull the front two-thirds out to sea using two tugboats to avoid further damage to the Mauritian coastline, a police official in the capital Port Louis told AFP. (Fabien Dubessay / AFP)

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Volunteers collect seaweed mixed with leaked oil from the MV Wakashio bulk carrier at the beach in Bois des Amourettes August 13. As of August 16, more than 800 tonnes of oil liquid waste and more than 400 tonnes of solid waste sludge and debris had been removed from the ocean. (Beekash Roopun / L’Express Maurice / AFP)

Updated on Aug 18, 2020 11:36 am IST

Volunteers collect seaweed mixed with leaked oil from the MV Wakashio bulk carrier at the beach in Bois des Amourettes August 13. As of August 16, more than 800 tonnes of oil liquid waste and more than 400 tonnes of solid waste sludge and debris had been removed from the ocean. (Beekash Roopun / L’Express Maurice / AFP)

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Two men near Blue Bay Marine Park look at the vessel MV Wakashio on August 15. France is contributing to the relief effort with a team to help mitigate the effects of the pollution while Japan has pledged similar help. A 10-member team from India’s coast guard also arrived on the island on August 16 with 28 tonnes of equipment including booms, barges and skimmers. (Fabien Dubessay / AFP)

Updated on Aug 18, 2020 11:36 am IST

Two men near Blue Bay Marine Park look at the vessel MV Wakashio on August 15. France is contributing to the relief effort with a team to help mitigate the effects of the pollution while Japan has pledged similar help. A 10-member team from India’s coast guard also arrived on the island on August 16 with 28 tonnes of equipment including booms, barges and skimmers. (Fabien Dubessay / AFP)

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