The Head of Mitsui OSK Lines, the Japanese ship that spilt about 1,000 metric tons of oil in Mauritius water last week, Akihiko Ono, has apologised on behalf of the company to the people of Mauritius.
The MV Wakashio was carrying close to 4,000 tons of fuel and ran aground on a reef on July 25th in what environmentalists have tagged as a major ecological disaster. About 2,500 metric tons of oil is still said to be on board the ship that left China on July 14th on its way to Brazil
Residents of the Indian Ocean island, a former French colony, spent two weeks watching the ship as it dangerously tilted amidst the strong waves due to bad weather.
The spill has caused Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth of Mauritius to declare a state of environmental emergency and to appeal for international help. The PM noted that the island relies heavily on tourism and is in danger due to the spill, adding to the current plight it is suffering due to travel restrictions caused by the coronavirus.
Yesterday in Tokyo, commenting on the spill, Ono said, “We apologize profusely and deeply for the great trouble we have caused.” According to him, the company will “do everything in its power to resolve the issue.”
The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs also announced it is sending a disaster-relief team to Mauritius. The Ministry said, “We hope that this assistance will contribute to recovery of the environment of Mauritius and prevention of marine pollution.”
France is also sending aid to its former colony. On Saturday, French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted: “When biodiversity is in peril, there is urgency to act.”
A statement from the Reunion on Saturday said that a military aircraft carrying pollution control equipment and a navy vessel with additional material will all be sent to the island.
Residents of Mauritius are said to have deployed homemade floating blooms made of fabrics, straw and sugar cane leaves tied with plastic jugs to keep them from sinking, to contain the spill. Others are using empty oil drums to scoop up as much as they can.
Environmentalist, Sunil Dowarkasing said, “The coral reefs had begun to regenerate and the lagoon was getting back its coral gardens, Now this might all be killed again by the oil spill.”
The spill does not only pose a threat to the people living on the island but to the wildlife too.
