Mauritians are banding together to help protect the marine ecosystems as much as they can from the oil spill off the southeast coast of the island. Volunteers have been working hard to help contain the spill in the most affected areas.
An oil spill off the southeast coast of Mauritius has been declared a state of environmental emergency. A ship ran aground on a reef near Blue Bay, a marine protected area.
The bulk carrier en route from China to Brazil and became lodged on a reef on July 25. The Mauritian Minister of Environment, Kavydass Ramano, said that the ship contained 3894 metric tons of low-sulphur fuel oil, 207 metric tons of diesel and 90 metric tons of lubricant oil.
At Vieux Grand Port behind a friend’s house. We need insights about how to protect our ecosystems. Please get in touch. Thanks! @ClimateTracking#Wakashio pic.twitter.com/kqwHdaXvvR
— Chetan Gukhool (@CGukhool) August 8, 2020
The oil is leaking from the cracked hull and Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth declared a state of environmental emergency.
‘Thousands of species around the pristine lagoons of Blue Bay, Pointe d’Esny and Mahebourg are at risk of drowning in a sea of pollution, with dire consequences for Mauritius’ economy, food security and health,’ Happy Khambule from Greenpeace said in a statement.
Residents have reportedly been trying to help by creating makeshift oil spill barriers by filling fabric sacks with sugar cane leaves.
In a statement, the Mauritian Wildlife Fund said: ‘We have been overwhelmed by the offers of assistance following the dreadful news that oil was spilling from Wakashio, thank you so very much indeed. It is really useful to know what everyone is able to provide from their help to equipment and funds. We are keeping a register, will plan to keep in touch with you all and let you know where things stand and how you can help.’
Volunteers in #Mauritius gathered in various sites across the #island to help make kilometres of floating #boom
used to contain the #Wakashio#OILSpill
Here at l’Aventure du #Sucre in the north of #IleMaurice pic.twitter.com/F7ak8w38Uu— zeenat hansrod (@zxnt) August 9, 2020
The #oilspill is devastating but I want to honour the community mobilisation at the Mahebourg waterfront today (to make containment booms) and every other Mauritian mobilising resources behind the scenes. Hats off et Merci. #Mauritius #Wakashio pic.twitter.com/4nJfrVn1Zm
— Fabiola Monty (@LFabiolaMonty) August 7, 2020
Drone footage shows the extent of the oil spill in Mauritius. #EnvironmentalCrisis #EnvironmentalEmergency
— Licypriya Kangujam (@LicypriyaK) August 9, 2020
Scenes in Mauritius! Shoutout to all the local citizens and volunteers working tirelessly to save our reefs! #MauritiusOilSpill #PointeDesny #Wakashio pic.twitter.com/UirgLEKUnS
— Sal (@jpgsxlmx) August 7, 2020
WOW ! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 @ 9:45 today @Mahebourg some epic job done by the locals making sacks with sugarcane leaves to help make a barrier to prevent the oil spills ! Nou tou maryé piké 💙 @MauritiusGuide #Wakashio #SaveMauritiusReefs #SovNouLagon pic.twitter.com/AXm26yq7Id
— daphney 🌊 (@daphneydupre) August 7, 2020
Imagine we wouldn’t use fossil fuels anymore. That would prevent accidents like the #Wakashio on a protected ramsar site off #Mauritius https://t.co/gBJy95ZUNA
— Carola Rackete (@CaroRackete) August 7, 2020
Lagoons of Blue Bay and Pointe d’Esny are some of the most beautiful places you can visit in the world. The wildlife of Île aux Aigrettes is simply exceptional. What a desperate, avoidable tragedy for Mauritius. 🇲🇺 #Wakashio https://t.co/LgCd6pujV2
— Robert Błaszczak (@RobertBlaszczak) August 7, 2020
Mauritius have declared
‘State of Environmental Emergency’ and have reached out for assistance. The 4000 tonnes, Japanese owned, ship ran aground offshore now spilling oil into the Indian Ocean.#Wakashio #Mauritius #oilspill #tanker #emergency #bluelagoon #portlouis pic.twitter.com/VYp9r7ETf5— Jay Rachet MC © (@jayrachetmc) August 8, 2020
Image credit: Twitter @jayrachetmc
