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Oil spill off Mauritius threatens endangered species

2020-08-09T12:46:21.943Z


Large amounts of oil from a freighter flow into the sea off Mauritius. Drone images show the extent of the disaster. The consequences for nature and the inhabitants are dire.


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The accident happened two weeks ago - but the real catastrophe is only now developing.

Large amounts of oil from a freighter flow into the sea off Mauritius. The case is a disaster for nature around the island nation in the Indian Ocean east of Madagsckr.

Reuben Pillay, director of a website for virtual tours: "Unfortunately, the oil trail is right next to the island of Île aux Aigrette, a nature reserve with native, endangered species. There are rose pigeons, giant turtles, a tree that is believed to be 400 years old. The Mauritius Wildlife Foundation has tried to protect those things there and take care of the endangered species. Now that the oil is right next to it, that will be a special challenge. "

On July 25, the freighter Wakashio, owned by a Japanese company and sailing under the Panamanian flag, ran aground off the island nation of Mauritius. The cause is still unclear.

Meanwhile, one side of the ship has sunk, oil has been leaking since Thursday, so far an estimated at least 1000 tons. 500 tons were recovered, but around 2500 are still on the ship. So far, apparently only one tank has cracked, but there could be more - and therefore major oil spills.

Attempts to make the freighter roadworthy again have so far failed - also due to poor weather conditions.

But the consequences of the disaster are not only grave for nature, but also for the economy and the local people.

Reuben Pillay, director of a website for virtual tours: "It's terrible for the locals. These people are fishermen, boaters, divers. They live off the sea and they eat off the sea. Tourism will be affected for a long time and they will be all these things for a long time and the government had to close a school because the smell is so terrible. It's bad for the health of the people here. "

The authorities and helpers are currently trying to remove the oil that has already leaked and to pump out the remaining oil in the freighter. The island state has declared environmental status and asked other countries for help. France, among others, has already accepted this request. The country sent experts and equipment to curb pollution to Mauritius from the neighboring island of La Réunion on Saturday. The United Nations also joined

Environmentalists fear that the oil spill will be the largest environmental disaster Mauritius has ever seen.

Source: spiegel

All life articles on 2020-08-09

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