A large amount of fuel has been spilling from a bulk carrier, the Wakashio, which ran aground on July 25. The ship was chartered by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines.

The team's six members are from Japan's Coast Guard, the foreign ministry and the Japan International Cooperation Agency, or JICA. They will take part in the cleanup operation.

The government says it hopes the experts can help to prevent contamination that could damage the marine environment and the tourism sector.

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