BP Oil Spill
5 years later
Overview
In 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, making it the largest marine oil spill in history. This oil rig was operated and owned by a company called Transocean, while also being leased by BP. More than 200 million gallons of crude oil were pumped into the water for 87 days. 5 years later, cleanup efforts are still happening and it is easy to see the effects in coastal areas..
Marshlands still have traces of oil to this day
An oil-soaked pelican on East Grande Terre Island, Louisiana
5 Facts
- explosion killed 11 people and injured 17 others
- 125 miles on Louisiana's coast have been polluted
- over 8,000 animals were reported dead just 6 months after the spill
- BP is responsible for roughly $40 billion in fines, cleanup costs, and settlements
- dolphins and turtles are now dying in record numbers
Impacts Today
Even though this spill was 5 years ago, there are still extreme effects on animal habitats and water pollution in the Gulf of Mexico. Cleanup is still happening, and will probably continue for years, Even though this was an environmental catastrophe, it taught other oil companies to take preventative measures and taught the general public a lot about the sensitivity of marine life and how we need to protect it.