The Indian Ocean island of Mauritius has declared a “state of environmental emergency” after a Japanese-owned ship that ran aground offshore days ago began spilling tons of fuel,the ship was carrying nearly 4,000 tons of fuel and cracks have appeared in its hull. The French island of Reunion is the closest neighbour to Mauritius, and France’s foreign ministry says France is Mauritius’s “leading foreign investor” and one of its largest trading partners.