The Solomon Islands government says it's contained the oil spill from a wrecked ship at the centre of an environmental disaster.
The MV Solomon Trader stuck on a reef off of Rennell Island in the Solomon Islands is leaking oil into the ocean. February 2019. Photo: Australian High Commission in Solomon Islands - DFAT
In a release today, officials detailed a wide-reaching and multi-agency cleanup effort off Rennell Island.
In Kangava Bay, where the sea shore lies slick with oil, locals have been banned from swimming, washing or fishing in the sea.
Officials estimate it will take at least two months to salvage the MV Solomon Trader, which first got stuck in early February.
Oil spillage into the sea has finally been contained and Maritime Safety authorities have scooped up 800 litres of oil using a special rake towed behind a boat.
But they have made barely a dent in the 100 tonnes estimated to have spilled into a pristine marine reserve.
Rennell Island locals, who are assisting with the cleanup, have been handed out water purity taps.