Wakashio Disaster

latest news & developments

A man scoops leaked oil from the vessel MV Wakashio, belonging to a Japanese company but Panamanian-flagged, that ran aground near Blue Bay Marine Park off the coast of south-east Mauritius on August 8, 2020. – France on August 8, 2020 dispatched aircraft and technical advisers from Reunion to Mauritius after the prime minister appealed for urgent assistance to contain a worsening oil spill polluting the island nation’s famed reefs, lagoons and oceans. Rough seas have hampered efforts to stop fuel leaking from the bulk carrier MV Wakashio, which ran aground two weeks ago, and is staining pristine waters in an ecologically protected marine area off the south-east coast. (Jean Aurelio PRUDENCE / L’Express Maurice / AFP)

Mauritius weeps as the island is surrounded by oil

The Wakashio freighter spilled 4 000 tonnes of oil into the sea off the Mauritian coast. Now the island’s residents are working together to recover from the disaster.

Deeya Jahajeeah
Jess Auerbach