Mauritius has arrested the captain of a Japanese bulk carrier that ran aground off its coast, causing adevastating oil spill in one of the world's most pristinemaritime environments, police said on Tuesday. "We have arrested the captain of the vessel and another member of the crew. After having been heard by the court they have been denied bail and are still in detention," Inspector Siva Coothen told Reuters. The MV Wakashio struck a coral reef off the Indian Ocean island nation on July 25 and began spilling oil on August 6, prompting the government to announced a state of "environmental emergency" the next day.

Source: The Standard August 18, 2020 14:11 UTC