The circumstances of the [tooltip style=”yellow” position=”north” shadow=”no” rounded=”no” size=”default” content=”naufrage” behavior=”hover” close=”no”]shipwreck[/tooltip]

On the 25th of July 2020, the Japanese boat named M.V. Wakashio [tooltip style=”yellow” position=”north” shadow=”no” rounded=”no” size=”default” content=”a coulé” behavior=”hover” close=”no”]sank[/tooltip] at Pointe d’Esny, in the south of Mauritius Island. It was carrying 1 000 tonnes of [tooltip style=”yellow” position=”north” shadow=”no” rounded=”no” size=”default” content=”pétrole” behavior=”hover” close=”no”]oil[/tooltip].

The oil

The oil escaped one week after the boat crashed on the coral barrier. [tooltip style=”yellow” position=”north” shadow=”no” rounded=”no” size=”default” content=”la plus grande partie” behavior=”hover” close=”no”]Most of[/tooltip] the fuel was pumped but the rest went in the lagoon and the [tooltip style=”yellow” position=”north” shadow=”no” rounded=”no” size=”default” title=”Définition” content=”La mangrove est un écosystème de marais maritime composé de végétaux spécifiques qui se développent dans la zone de balancement des marées des côtes basses des régions tropicales.” behavior=”click” close=”no”]mangrove[/tooltip].

The consequence now

It damaged the coral reef and the lagoon is full of oil. The mangrove is polluted and many fish died. Also 18 dolphins died last Wednesday. Their bodies were found on the beach. They had oil in their stomach.

Mauritians’ people engagement

The volunteers crafted floating barriers made of sugar cane. They also pumped the oil in the boat. They also picked up by hand the oil (they were not all protected). They asked for hair to absorb the oil.

The shipwreck

The ship broke in two parts. The bow was sunk off the coast of Mauritius. The other part stays on the reef at Pointe d’Esny.

Image Source : CC License – International Maritime Organization – https://www.flickr.com/photos/62937028@N02/50237544366/