Indian Ocean

A man scoops oil from the coast of Mauritius on Saturday. A Japanese cargo ship ran aground near Blue Bay Marine Park in late July and began to leak fuel oil and diesel into pristine waters.

The Oil Spill At Mauritius Is A Disaster. And It Could Soon Get Worse

4:07pm August 11, 2020

by Camila Domonoske

A Japanese-owned cargo ship ran aground in late July and began leaking oil a few days ago. Now a crack has expanded in its hull. The island nation is home to species that live nowhere else.

Debris blankets the north side of one of the Cocos Keeling Islands in the Indian Ocean. Researchers found a huge amount of plastic both onshore and buried in the sand.

Remote Island Chain Has Few People — But Hundreds Of Millions Of Pieces Of Plastic

1:48pm May 16, 2019

by Christopher Joyce

The Cocos Keeling Islands make up barely 6 square miles in the Indian Ocean. It's a good place to measure debris because almost no one lives there. Scientists were flabbergasted by what they found.

One of the U.K.-controlled islands, Diego Garcia, is home to a major U.S. military base.

World News

U.N. Court Says U.K. Must Give Up Control Of Chagos Islands

6:24pm February 25, 2019

by Merrit Kennedy

The U.K. expelled the residents of the Indian Ocean islands and allowed the U.S. to build a military base. The U.N. Court says it must cede control of the islands "as rapidly as possibly."

The hull of Wild Eyes — the sailboat Abby Sunderland used in her attempt to sail around the world solo — was found drifting off Australia's Kangaroo Island.

Sailboat From U.S. Teen's Doomed Round-The-World Attempt Found Drifting Off Australia

10:32am January 03, 2019

by Bill Chappell

"My heart skipped a beat. It brought back many memories — good and not so good": Seeing her boat Wild Eyes brought back a flood of emotions, says Abby Sunderland, who's now 25.

Experts: Flight MH370 Debris Could Have Reached Western Indian Ocean

4:00pm July 30, 2015

by Scott Neuman

A scientist who studies ocean circulation patterns tells NPR that it's "highly likely" that floating wreckage from the airliner could have reached the island of Reunion near Madagascar.

Chagossians weep at the grave of their parents on Peros Banos Island April 10, 2006. Fifteen elders are allowed to visit once a year.

World News

Islanders Pushed Out For U.S. Base Hope For End To 40-Year Exile

11:52pm April 26, 2015

by Ari Shapiro

Britain forced thousands off Diego Garcia, a remote Indian Ocean island, in the '70s to make way for a U.S. military base. For 40 years residents have fought to return. Now they have a growing chance.

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