Tokyo, Aug 18 (IANS): The Japanese government said that a second disaster relief team will be dispatched to Mauritius this week to help respond to a fuel oil leak from a Japanese bulk carrier off the coast of the island-nation.

In a statement on Monday, the Environment Ministry said the team consists of seven experts including officials from the National Institute for Environmental Studies, reports Xinhua news agency.

They will leave Japan on Wednesday to help clean up oil and assist in grasping the environmental damage of the incident.

The first team, consisting of four experts from the Japan Coast Guard and one official each from the Foreign Ministry and the Japan International Cooperation Agency, has already started relief activities last week.

The second team will be sent at the request of Mauritius and carry with them items such as sorbents to deal with oil spills, the ministry added.

The Panama-flagged bulk carrier Wakashio ran aground on July 25, according to Nagashiki Shipping Co., the owner of the ship.

The operator of the vessel, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd., has said more than 1,000 tonnes of oil have leaked from it, triggering a state of environmental emergency in the Indian Ocean island nation.