CALIFORNIA OIL SPILL SPARKS STATE OF EMERGENCY

 In Others

A state of emergency has been declared in southern California in the US after two oil slicks, stretching nine miles, formed off the coast.

The spill near Santa Barbara was caused by a ruptured onshore pipeline.

Officials said the pipeline was running at full-capacity when it broke on Tuesday and about 105,000 gallons (400,000 litres) may have spilled.

While it has now been switched off, it is unclear how long the clean up will take.

Earlier estimates said a single slick had formed, stretching only four miles.

Emergency workers have been fanning out across Refugio State Beach to remove oil that is stuck to sand and rocks.

It is estimated about 21,000 gallons of oil have reached the ocean.

California Governor Jerry Brown declared the state of emergency on Wednesday to help the state “quickly mobilise all available resources”.

“We will do everything necessary to protect California’s coastline,” he added.

oil

POSTED BY: BBC News

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