The clean-up efforts after a devastating oil spill in Mauritius earlier this month “will take around a year”, according to oceanographer and environmental engineer Vassen Kauppaymuthoo.
He told BBC Newsday “the impact will be there for decades. The pristine coastal areas in the south-east will never be like before”.
The Japanese bulk carrier MV Wakashio ran aground in July and split in two on Sunday.
“There is still now between 50 and 100 metric tonnes [of fuel oil] still in the ship which threatens to go back into the ocean,” Mr Kauppaymuthoo said.
But he said the terrible event had shown that “the Mauritian nation is not just a dream, it’s a reality.”
He added:Quote Message: Something was born during this event – a solidarity which we’ve never seen before.
Something was born during this event – a solidarity which we’ve never seen before.Quote Message: People crying together, people getting angry together. And those people trying to do whatever they could to build [homemade] booms.”
People crying together, people getting angry together. And those people trying to do whatever they could to build [homemade] booms.”
Source: BBC
