Salvage crews are “in a race against time” to pump fuel from the Japanese-owned bulk carrier MV Wakashio, which ran aground on a coral reef on Mauritius’ coast last month and began leaking oil five days ago, according to africanews.

Mauritian authorities have been warned that the crack in the ship’s hull could break the ship into two and a team of United Nations experts arrived on the island nation of Mauritius on Tuesday to aid efforts to prevent an oil spill from further damaging its pristine environment. 

The United Nations team will "support efforts to mitigate the impact of the oil spill on natural resources and on the population", africanews quotes a statement from the UN office in Mauritius.

The Wakashio ran aground with 4,000 tonnes of fuel and according to a statement by Mitsui OSK Lines, which operates the MV Wakashio, around 1,180 tonnes of fuel has leaked into the surrounding powder blue waters.

According to the National Ocean Service (NOS) of the US Department of Commerce, an oil spill can have disastrous effects on marine life, most of which Mauritius’ tourism sector relies on.

According to the NOS website, oil destroys the insulating ability of fur-bearing mammals, such as sea otters, and the water repellency of a bird's feathers, thus exposing these creatures to the harsh elements. Without the ability to repel water and insulate from the cold water, birds and mammals die from hypothermia.

Juvenile sea turtles can also become trapped in oil and mistake it for food. Dolphins and whales can inhale oil, which can affect lungs, immune function and reproduction. Many birds and animals also ingest oil when they try to clean themselves, which can poison them.

 Also, when exposed to oil, adult fish may experience reduced growth, enlarged livers, changes in heart and respiration rates, fin erosion, and reproduction impairment. Fish eggs and larvae can be especially sensitive to lethal and sublethal impacts.