Mauritius Oil Spill Ship Finally 'Split in Two'

Complete Emergency... Japanese Shipping Company "Removed 3000 Tons of Crude Oil"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Hyung-gil] The Japanese vessel that ran aground in the southern Indian Ocean near Mauritius, causing an oil spill, has finally split into two, dpa news agency reported on the 15th (local time), citing local media.

Alain Donna, head of the Mauritius Marine Department, told the local media Le Mauricien that the hull split at around 3:40 p.m. that day and that "the front part is being towed very slowly."

Environmental expert Sunil Korwakasing confirmed via drone footage, stating, "Since morning, security along the coast has been strengthened. It is a complete emergency."

The accident vessel is the Wakashio, a cargo ship operated by the Japanese shipping company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, one of Japan's top three shipping companies. It ran aground on a coral reef southeast of Mauritius on the 25th of last month while en route from China to Brazil.

Since the accident, about 1,000 tons of crude oil have leaked from the cargo ship, polluting the waters of Mauritius.

The Japanese shipping company announced on the 13th that they had almost completed the removal of 3,000 tons of crude oil remaining on the vessel, but it is currently unclear how much oil remains as of today.