Calls for new lockdown as virus cases rise and hospitals feel the pressure
are permitted to work in the coastal area and the waters surrounding the grounded ship. Experts from France, Japan and the UN are also involved in the clean-up work.
“Now, we must rely on the government as our only source of information about the situation, so we are only getting one side of the story,” Dowarkasing said. “We know that the damage to the area is substantial,” he said. “The mangroves are heavily impacted. The extent of the damage to the coral reefs will only be known much later, but it is expected to be serious.”
The Wakashio ran aground on a coral reef on July 25. After being pounded by heavy waves, the vessel cracked and it starting leaking oil on August 6. The damaged ship spilled more than 1 000 tons of its cargo of 4 000 tons of fuel into the turquoise waters of the
Mahebourg Lagoon, one of the island’s most pristine coastal areas.
Most of the remaining 3 000 tons of fuel had been pumped off the ship in the past week as environmental groups warned that the damage to coral reefs could be irreversible.
The Mauritius government is under pressure to explain why immediate action wasn’t taken to empty the ship of its fuel before it began to leak. Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth blamed bad weather for the slow response.
Owner Nagashiki Shipping has sent experts to help clean up the damage.
The Mauritius government is seeking compensation from the company.
The island nation of about 1.3 million people relies heavily on tourism and already had taken a severe hit due to travel restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic.
LEBANON is facing a surge in Covid19 cases after a blast at the Beirut port this month killed scores and wounded thousands, prompting medical officials to urge for a two-week lockdown.
Virus numbers were expected to rise following the August 4 explosion of nearly 3 000 tons of ammonium nitrate stored at the port. Around 180 people were killed, more than 6 000 wounded and a quarter of a million left with homes unfit to live in.
The blast overwhelmed hospitals and damaged two that had a key role in handling virus cases.
Before the surge, medical officials had warned of the dangers of crowding at hospitals in the aftermath of the explosion, at funerals or as people searched through the rubble. Protests and demonstrations also broke out after the blast as Lebanese vented their anger at the ruling class and decades-long mismanagement.
On Sunday, Lebanon registered 439 new virus cases and six fatalities. The new infections bring to 8 881 the total number of cases in the small country of just over 5 million, where Covid-19 has killed some 103 people.
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said four Palestinians died of the virus over the weekend – doubling to eight the number of dead so far in Palestinian camps.
Initially, strict measures had kept the numbers of cases under control, but they surged after a lockdown and night-time curfew were lifted and the country’s only international airport reopened last month.
Health Minister Hamad Hassan warned the true number could be far higher. Following a meeting yesterday with medical officials who demanded another two-week lockdown, he urged everyone to wear a mask, saying the virus had spread in every city and almost every village.
Lebanon’s health sector has been challenged by the pandemic that hit amid an economic and financial crisis. The explosion in Beirut’s port increased the pressure on the hospitals, knocking out at least three of them.
Dr Firas Abiad, the director general of Rafik Hariri University Hospital which is leading the fight against coronavirus, said the situation was worrisome. He warned that without a lockdown, the numbers would rise “overwhelming the hospital capacity”.
Meanwhile, Iran, which has the region’s largest and deadliest outbreak, reported 165 more deaths from Covid19, bringing the overall death toll to 19 804. The Health Ministry said Iran had confirmed 345 450 cases.