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Sea Life Suffers as Mauritius Oil Spill Spreads

VOA News

   Sea life around the Indian Ocean island nation of Mauritius is dying as
   a result of a spill reportedly of 1,000 tons of oil, said cleanup
   volunteers on Tuesday.

   The Japanese tanker MV Wakashio hit a coral reef on the southeast coast
   of Mauritius on July 25. Last week, the tanker began leaking.

   Activists working to clear beaches fear a huge environmental crisis,
   telling the Reuters news agency that they saw dead eels floating in the
   water and dead starfish covered in black crude oil. They also saw dying
   crabs and seabirds.

   "We don't know what may happen further with the boat, it may crack
   more," said volunteer Yvan Luckhun.

   Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth echoed the sentiments, saying late
   Monday that the country should brace for the worst, as the ship still
   contains 2,000 tons of oil.

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