Mauritius declares environmental emergency as oil spill from Japanese ship spells doom for marine life in Indian Ocean

Fuel spilling from a Japanese bulk carrier that ran aground on a reef in Mauritius two weeks ago is creating an ecological disaster, endangering corals, fish and other marine life around the Indian Ocean island, officials and environmentalists say.

The MV Wakashio, owned by the Nagashiki Shipping Company, struck the reef on Mauritius` southeast coast on July 25.

On Thursday, the government said fuel was leaking from a crack in the vessel`s hull and Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth declared a state of an environmental emergency, pleading for international help.