Tanker that caused Mauritius oil spill splits in two – sending more fuel into Indian Ocean

Andy Wells
·Freelance Writer
Updated ·2-min read

A ship that ran aground off the coast of Mauritius last month has now split in two, spilling tonnes more oil into the Indian Ocean.

The Japanese-owned MV Wakashio struck a coral reef on 25 July, 12 days before the 4,000 tonnes of oil on board started to spill out into the crystal-clear water.

It was estimated the tanker had leaked about 1,300 tonnes of oil into the ocean, but that a split would worsen the ecological disaster.

TOPSHOT - The vessel MV Wakashio, belonging to a Japanese company but Panamanian-flagged, that ran aground and caused oil leakage is seen near Blue bay Marine Park in southeast Mauritius on August 11, 2020. (Photo by Sumeet Mudhoo / L'Express Maurice / AFP) (Photo by SUMEET MUDHOO/L'Express Maurice/AFP via Getty Images)
The MV Wakashio has split apart after it ran aground and caused oil leakage in south-east Mauritius. (AFP/Getty)

Prime minister Pravind Jugnauth previously warned: “The boat can still break in two.

“The cracks have developed. The situation is even more serious.

"Arrangements have been made so that the part which is already underwater is towed in case of breakage.

“The part still out of the water must be stabilised because it is this which contains the bulk of the heavy oil load of the ship.”

This photo provided by the French Army shows oil leaking from the MV Wakashio, a bulk carrier ship that ran aground off the southeast coast of Mauritius, Tuesday Aug.11, 2020. Thousands of students, environmental activists and residents of Mauritius were working around the clock trying to reduce the damage to the Indian Ocean island from an oil spill after a tanker ran aground on a coral reef. An estimated 1 ton of oil from the Japanese ship's cargo of 4 tons has already escaped into the sea, officials said. (Gwendoline Defente, EMAE via AP)
Oil leaks from the MV Wakashio. (AP)

Oceanographer Vassen Kauppaymuthoo previously warned of the damage if the vessel was to break apart.

He told RFI: “The damage we are seeing now is nothing compared to what may happen when the Wakashio will break.

“The whole east coast, from Blue Bay to Grand Gaube, will be affected.”

At the weekend, locals donned hazmat suits in an effort to clean-up the area.

This photo taken and provided by Georges de La Tremoille of Mu Press shows oil leaking from the MV Wakashio, a bulk carrier ship that recently ran aground off the southeast coast of Mauritius, Friday, Aug. 7, 2020. The Indian Ocean island of Mauritius declared a “state of environmental emergency” late Friday after a Japanese-owned ship that ran aground offshore days ago began spilling tons of fuel. (Georges de La Tremoille/MU press via AP)
Oil can be seen leaking from the MV Wakashio as Mauritius declared a 'state of environmental emergency'. (AP)
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,, Sunday Aug.9, 2020. The Indian Ocean island of Mauritius has declared a "state of environmental emergency" after the Japanese-owned ship that ran aground offshore days ago began spilling tons of fuel. (Gwendoline Defente/EMAE via AP)
It was estimated the tanker has already leaked about 1,300 tonnes of oil into the ocean. (AP)

Local fisherman Baretta Matombe said: “The stench is unbearable and it is making us sick.”

Sebastien Sauvage, spokesperson of local environmental group Eco-Sud, said it would take “years” to clean up the mess.

The ship was believed to be travelling to Brazil from China when it hit a coral reef on the Pointe d'Esny reef, situated at the south-east part of the island.

An aerial view shows volunteers carrying the handmade oil barrier to block leaked oil from the MV Wakashio bulk carrier on august 10, 2020, that had run aground at the beach in Bambous Virieux, southeast Mauritius. (Photo by - / L'Express Maurice / AFP) (Photo by -/L'Express Maurice/AFP via Getty Images)
Volunteers carry the handmade oil barrier to block leaked oil from the MV Wakashio bulk carrier. (AFP/Getty)
TOPSHOT - An aerial view shows people scooping leaked oil on August 10, 2020, from the MV Wakashio bulk carrier that had run aground at the beach in Bambous Virieux, southeast Mauritius. (Photo by - / L'Express Maurice / AFP) (Photo by -/L'Express Maurice/AFP via Getty Images)
People scoop leaked oil from the MV Wakashio bulk carrier. (AFP/Getty)

Environmental expert Sunil Dowarkasin, who took part in the response to the disaster, warned the island would “never be able to recover from this damage”.

Some 340 species of fish live in the waters where the ship has run aground, while prime minister Jugnauth said the spill was a threat to the livelihoods of the 1.3 million people living in the area.

A state of emergency was declared in Mauritius on Friday.

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