Race to contain seven-mile oil spill killing wildlife around Mauritius

Seven-mile oil spill off Mauritius has grown 10 times in last 5 days Pics: Getty/Rex/Reutera — Coral reefs and wildlife are in grave danger following a major oil spill off Mauritius (Pictures: Getty/Rex/Reutera)

A disastrous oil spill off the coast of Mauritius has grown to over seven miles long and clean-up crews say it is now killing local wildlife.

It was caused by a Japanese-owned tanker carrying 4,000 tonnes of fuel which ran aground on July 25 and began leaking oil last week.

Satellite images show the spill covered an area of 16 square miles as of Tuesday evening, compared to around 2 square miles last Thursday.

Around 2,000 tonnes of fuel remained in the MV Wakashio as of Monday evening, and authorities are racing to pump it out before the vessel splits in two.

Volunteers told the Reuters news agency they have found dead eels, starfish, crabs and seabirds in and around the oily waters.

Hundreds of activists have defied an order from the government to leave the clean-up to local authorities, and have been fashioning makeshift barriers from sacks of straw and tights filled with hair to block the oil’s spread.

Efforts to contain the spill have been hampered by rough seas and strong winds, although Mauritians have criticised their government for not acting sooner.

The need to test experts for coronavirus has also delayed their deployment on the scene, according to Mitsui OSK Lines, the company which operates the ship.

The MV Wakashio, visible at the bottom of the image, is seen stranded close to Pointe d'Esny, Mauritius in this image taken on August 11, 2020 by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission. The oil slick can be seen as a thin, black line surrounded by the bright turquoise colours of the Indian Ocean. Oil is visible near the boat, as well as other locations around the lagoon. European Space Agency/Handout via REUTERS. THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES — The oil has spread across the Grand Port lagoon and is likely to go even further (Picture: via REUTERS)

A helicopter hovers over the vessel MV Wakashio, belonging to a Japanese company but Panamanian-flagged, that ran aground and caused oil leakage near Blue bay Marine Park in southeast Mauritius on August 8, 2020. - France on August 8, 2020 dispatched aircraft and technical advisers from Reunion to Mauritius after the prime minister appealed for urgent assistance to contain a worsening oil spill polluting the island nation's famed reefs, lagoons and oceans. Rough seas have hampered efforts to stop fuel leaking from the bulk carrier MV Wakashio, which ran aground two weeks ago, and is staining pristine waters in an ecologically protected marine area off the south-east coast. (Photo by Daren Mauree / L'Express Maurice / AFP) (Photo by DAREN MAUREE/L'Express Maurice/AFP via Getty Images) — Helicopters are trying to haul as much fuel off the vessel as possible before it splits in two (Picture: AFP)

TOPSHOT - People scoop leaked oil from the vessel MV Wakashio, belonging to a Japanese company but Panamanian-flagged, that ran aground and caused oil leakage near Blue bay Marine Park in southeast Mauritius on August 9, 2020. - France on August 8, 2020 dispatched aircraft and technical advisers from Reunion to Mauritius after the prime minister appealed for urgent assistance to contain a worsening oil spill polluting the island nation's famed reefs, lagoons and oceans. Rough seas have hampered efforts to stop fuel leaking from the bulk carrier MV Wakashio, which ran aground two weeks ago, and is staining pristine waters in an ecologically protected marine area off the south-east coast. (Photo by Daren Mauree / L'Express Maurice / AFP) (Photo by DAREN MAUREE/L'Express Maurice/AFP via Getty Images) — Rough seas and coronavirus have hampered efforts to tackle the spill (Picture: AFP)

The ship’s owners, Nagasaki Shipping, are using a helicopter and another vessel to carry fuel to shore, while France has sent a military aircraft with anti-pollution equipment from its nearby island of Réunion.

The Mauritian coast guard and police units are overseeing the operation as well as clean-up efforts.

Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth declared an environmental emergency on Friday and warned late on Monday that the country must prepare for the worst.

On Wednesday afternoon he opened a special Prime Minister’s Relief Fund for people to donate to the operation.

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Bernard Thomas/SIPA/REX (10741903ai) Disastrous fuel spill from a tanker which has been stranded since hitting a reef off Pointe d'Esny, a protected marine reserve near Blue Bay Marine Park in Mauritius Oil spill off Mauritius after bulk carrier ship Wakashio hit the coral reefs, Pointe Desny - 10 Aug 2020 — The oil poses a major threat to Mauritius’ abundant and diverse wildlife (Picture: SIPA/REX)

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Bernard Thomas/SIPA/REX (10741903w) Disastrous fuel spill from a tanker which has been stranded since hitting a reef off Pointe d'Esny, a protected marine reserve near Blue Bay Marine Park in Mauritius Oil spill off Mauritius after bulk carrier ship Wakashio hit the coral reefs, Pointe Desny - 10 Aug 2020 — Volunteers are using whatever they can spare to soak up the oil (Picture: SIPA/REX)

In 2006, a tanker operated by the same firm leaked around 4,500 tonnes of crude oil into the Indian Ocean after taking damage while trying to rescue the crew of another ship.

Both Mitsui OSK Lines and Nagasaki Shipping have apologised for the current spill.

Images from US satellite analysis firm Ursa Space Systems showed the slick stretching 7.1 miles from the Pointe d’Esny cape, on the island’s southeastern tip, to the other side of the Bay of Grand Port.

Mauritius is home to coral reefs of global significance and relies heavily on tourism.

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