Oil spill in Mauritius: a succession of errors at the origin of the disaster

The disaster is underway, and unfortunately the situation looks set to get worse. Fuel has been escaping from the Wakashio for more than five days , off the coast of Mauritius. The Japanese ship (but sailing under the Panamanian flag), ran aground on the coral reef off Pointe d'Esny, in the south-east of the island, on July 25, while it was reaching Brazil since China. He was sailing empty, and had to recover Brazilian iron, but 1000 tonnes of fuel have already escaped since his tank was punctured on August 6, twelve days after the grounding. "This tank is now empty," explains Vassen Kauppaymuthoo, oceanographer and environmental engineer in Mauritius.But more than 2,500 tonnes of fuel, diesel and lubricant are still at risk of spilling because the structure of the boat is weakened. It risks breaking at any time. " If that happens, it would be the worst environmental disaster on the island ever.

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