A Growing Oil Spill Off the Coast of Mauritius

Alan Taylor
August 10, 2020
16 Photos
In Focus

The MV Wakashio, a bulk carrier ship loaded with about 4,000 tons of fuel oil, ran aground off the coast of Mauritius, in the Indian Ocean, on July 25. After sitting on a reef for days, battered by waves while awaiting salvage workers, the vessel has leaked an increasing amount of oil near a marine park and populated beaches. Mauritius has declared a “state of environmental emergency,” as the growing spill threatens nearby reefs and lagoons. The government of France has sent aircraft and technical advisers to the island nation after appeals for assistance.

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This photo provided by the French Defense Ministry shows oil leaking from the MV Wakashio, a bulk carrier ship that recently ran aground off the southeast coast of Mauritius, on August 9, 2020. #

Gwendoline Defente / EMAE via AP

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A still image taken from a drone video shows a cleanup crew working at the site of an oil spill after the bulk carrier ship MV Wakashio ran aground on a reef, at Riviere des Creoles, Mauritius, on August 8, 2020. #

Reuben Pillay via Reuters

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This aerial view taken on August 8, 2020, shows leaked oil being pushed by currents towards the Grand Port Bay, near the Bois des Amourettes, coming from the vessel MV Wakashio, on August 8, 2020. #

AFP / Getty

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A volunteer is seen among the leaked oil at Riviere des Creoles, Mauritius, on August 10, 2020. #

Dev Ramkhelawon / L'Express Maurice / Reuters

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The vessel MV Wakashio, after running aground near Blue Bay Marine Park off the coast of southeast Mauritius, photographed on August 7, 2020 #

Daren Mauree / L'Express Maurice / AFP / Getty

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This aerial view, taken on August 6, 2020, shows a large patch of leaked oil from the vessel MV Wakashio, off the coast of southeast Mauritius. #

AFP / Getty

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A man collects leaked oil from the bulk carrier ship MV Wakashio at Riviere des Creoles, Mauritius, on August 10, 2020. #

Dev Ramkhelawon / L'Express Maurice / Reuters

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A view of the leaked oil washing ashore in Riviere des Creoles, Mauritius, on August 10, 2020. #

Dev Ramkhelawon / L'Express Maurice / Reuters

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People scoop leaked oil near Blue Bay Marine Park in southeast Mauritius on August 9, 2020. #

Daren Mauree / L'Express Maurice / AFP / Getty

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This photo provided by the French Defense Ministry shows oil leaking from the MV Wakashio off the southeast coast of Mauritius, on August 9, 2020. #

Gwendoline Defente / EMAE via AP

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A helicopter hovers over the MV Wakashio near Blue Bay Marine Park on August 9, 2020. #

Daren Mauree / L'Express Maurice / AFP / Getty

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A large patch of leaked oil, seen off the coast of southeast Mauritius on August 6, 2020. #

AFP / Getty

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Floating booms capture some of the leaked oil from the vessel MV Wakashio on August 8, 2020. #

AFP / Getty

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Volunteers make improvised oil-blocking booms from straw, to replace existing ones that have become heavy with oil, on the Mahebourg Waterfront, Mauritius, on August 10, 2020. #

Reuben Pillay / Reuters

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A still image taken from a drone video shows the oil spill at Riviere des Creoles on August 8, 2020. #

Reuben Pillay via Reuters

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A man scoops leaked oil from the vessel MV Wakashio near Blue Bay Marine Park on August 8, 2020. #

Jean Aurelio Prudence / L'Express Maurice / AFP / Getty

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