August 15 (UPI) – A shipment that sank off the coast of Mauritius in July split in two on Saturday, leading to fears that more oil will spill near the island and pose a serious risk to marine life.
The equipment was evacuated, but oil from the oil tanker was frequently leaked to the surrounding waters, prompting an emergency statement and requests for foreign monetary assistance.
This week, Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth said he was awaiting reimbursement of the spill by the shipping company.
Destructive fumes from spill schools will close as the island eased restrictions on the COVID-19 pandemic.
Volunteers from across the island and staff from non-governmental organizations worked together to build floating shock absorbers called dams to help the cost of the spill.
The country’s crisis committee said it paid close attention to sites like Blue Bay Marine Park, Aigrettes Island and Pointe D’Esny National Ramsar, especially since meteorologists expect waves up to 15 feet on the coast.