Authorities on the island nation of Mauritius are hoping to complete pumping out the remaining oil from the ship responsible for an enormous oil spill, before it breaks.

The BBC reports that against government instruction, volunteers were helping to transfer the fuel oil to land. The Japanese-owned MV Wakashio was carrying 4,000 tonnes of fuel oil, when it ran aground on a coral reef on July 25. Fuel has been transferred to another ship owned by the same Japanese firm, Nagashiki Shipping. It has also been transferred to shore by helicopter. From nearby Réunion Island, a military aircraft with pollution control equipment was sent by France. A team was also sent by Japan to assist French efforts.

Meanwhile, the island’s police chief Khemraj Servansing said that cracks in the ship “keep increasing”. He said the pumping operation would most likely be concluded on Wednesday but added that 700 tonnes of oil were still on board.

The BBC reports that the oil spill has caused an environmental disaster in Mauritius.The MV Wakashio ran aground at a wildlife sanctuary. Dozens of baby tortoises and rare plants from Ile aux Aigrettes, an island near the spill, had had to be rescued and ferried to the mainland. Meanwhile, Greenpeace Africa has warned that “thousands” of animal species were “at risk of drowning in a sea of pollution, with dire consequences for Mauritius’ economy, food security and health”.

Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth on Friday declared a state of emergency and appealed for international help.

Umm Muhammed Asvat vvv