A Mauritian tanker sailing empty is in difficulty off Reunion, an Indian Ocean island currently shaken by cyclone Batsirai, said Thursday the Minister of Overseas Sébastien Lecornu.
“The Mauritian vessel TrestaStar is in difficulty and risks running aground in the next few hours off Reunion Island (…) Our efforts are currently focused on rescuing the crew (…) A towing attempt to avoid its grounding around from the tip of Tremblet in the town of Saint-Philippe will be undertaken, ”tweeted the minister.
This tanker is sailing empty: there is therefore at this stage no risk of serious maritime pollution by hydrocarbons. An attempt to tow to avoid its grounding around the tip of Tremblet in the town of Saint-Philippe will be undertaken.
— Sebastien Lecornu (@SebLecornu) February 3, 2022
According to information from Meeting The Firstthe Mauritian vessel “ran aground around 10 p.m. local time (7 p.m. in Paris).
Reunion will spend another night on red alert due to the passage of Cyclone Batsirai, because, despite its gradual distance, winds and rains have intensified, assured the authorities this Thursday evening.