Storm Ida causes miles-long oil spill in Gulf of Mexico - as responsibility for damage is disputed | World News | Sky News
Storm Ida causes miles-long oil spill in Gulf of Mexico - as responsibility for damage is disputed
The cause of the spill is still under investigation, but is thought to be an undersea pipeline owned by Houston firm Talos Energy.
Sunday 5 September 2021 08:09, UK
Image:Satellite imagery reveals the extent of the oil spill off the coast of Belle Chase, Louisiana. Pic: AP/Maxar
A private dive team will attempt to find the source of an oil spill spotted in the Gulf of Mexico after Storm Ida wreaked havoc in the region, the US coastguard has said.
Aerial images show miles of oil in the water around two miles south of Port Fourchon, Louisiana.
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Coastguard spokesman Lieutenant John Edwards said the source of the spill is an undersea crude oil pipeline owned by Talos Energy.
Image:An aerial image shows the oil spill south of Port Fourchon, Louisiana. Pic: AP/Maxar
The Houston-based firm confirmed it has employed the non-profit oil spill response team Clean Gulf Associates to clean up the damage, but is disputing responsibility.
It said it had chartered two 29m (95ft) response boats, as well as a lift vessel to allow divers to investigate the cause of the leak.
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"Talos will continue to work closely with the US coastguard and other state and federal agencies to identify the source of the release and coordinate a successful response," it said in a statement.
"The company's top priorities are the safety of all personnel and the protection of the public and environment."
More on Hurricane Ida
Play Video - The human cost of Storm Ida
Sky News travels to Manville in New Jersey to speak to those affected by Ida
One of the sites it carried surveillance out on was a refinery where an apparent oil spill was reported.
The aircraft dispatched from Texas was going to gather data on a Phillips 66 refinery and other priority sites.
It comes as a huge clean-up operation begins along the East Coast, with communities along the Rahway River in New Jersey fishing through waterlogged belongings from inside homes and businesses.
The death toll from Ida has now reached at least 64, with two more confirmed at a care home overwhelmed by flooding in Tangipaho, Louisiana.
Image:Waterlogged belongings line a street in Manville, New Jersey. Pic: AP
Among the others confirmed to have died are four who suffered carbon monoxide poisoning in Louisiana and two who died when the highway they were on collapsed in Mississippi.
Cars have swept away with people inside and others in New York drowned when their basement apartments flooded.
President Joe Biden visited Louisiana on Saturday and will head to badly-hit communities in New Jersey on Tuesday.
Play Video - People rescued on dinghy in New York floods
Rescue boats used in New York and New Jersey
His administration has already distributed $100m (£72m) to those affected in Louisiana alone.
Calling for national unity, he promised to "have your backs until this gets done" and said: "This isn't about being a Democrat or a Republican. We're Americans and we'll get through this together."
Storm Ida causes miles-long oil spill in Gulf of Mexico - as responsibility for damage is disputed
The cause of the spill is still under investigation, but is thought to be an undersea pipeline owned by Houston firm Talos Energy.
Sunday 5 September 2021 08:09, UK
Image:Satellite imagery reveals the extent of the oil spill off the coast of Belle Chase, Louisiana. Pic: AP/Maxar
- https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sha...co - as responsibility for damage is disputed
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A private dive team will attempt to find the source of an oil spill spotted in the Gulf of Mexico after Storm Ida wreaked havoc in the region, the US coastguard has said.
Aerial images show miles of oil in the water around two miles south of Port Fourchon, Louisiana.
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Electricity Tariffs: How does it works in Malaysia?Energy WatchCoastguard spokesman Lieutenant John Edwards said the source of the spill is an undersea crude oil pipeline owned by Talos Energy.
Image:An aerial image shows the oil spill south of Port Fourchon, Louisiana. Pic: AP/Maxar
The Houston-based firm confirmed it has employed the non-profit oil spill response team Clean Gulf Associates to clean up the damage, but is disputing responsibility.
It said it had chartered two 29m (95ft) response boats, as well as a lift vessel to allow divers to investigate the cause of the leak.
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"Talos will continue to work closely with the US coastguard and other state and federal agencies to identify the source of the release and coordinate a successful response," it said in a statement.
"The company's top priorities are the safety of all personnel and the protection of the public and environment."
More on Hurricane Ida
- Joe Biden vows to help US communities recover as number killed by Storm Ida rises to 64
- 'It's all trashed everywhere': Residents of New Jersey community assess the damage after Storm Ida
- Storm Ida: Communities ripped apart as tail of storm brings flooding to US northeast
- Storm Ida: Number killed rises to at least 64 after record-breaking rainfall
- Storm Ida: At least 58 people dead after flooding and tornadoes battered the US
- Storm Ida: New York flooding and other extreme weather shows our world is increasingly vulnerable - and our leaders are now quick to admit it
Play Video - The human cost of Storm Ida
Sky News travels to Manville in New Jersey to speak to those affected by Ida
One of the sites it carried surveillance out on was a refinery where an apparent oil spill was reported.
The aircraft dispatched from Texas was going to gather data on a Phillips 66 refinery and other priority sites.
It comes as a huge clean-up operation begins along the East Coast, with communities along the Rahway River in New Jersey fishing through waterlogged belongings from inside homes and businesses.
The death toll from Ida has now reached at least 64, with two more confirmed at a care home overwhelmed by flooding in Tangipaho, Louisiana.
Image:Waterlogged belongings line a street in Manville, New Jersey. Pic: AP
Among the others confirmed to have died are four who suffered carbon monoxide poisoning in Louisiana and two who died when the highway they were on collapsed in Mississippi.
Cars have swept away with people inside and others in New York drowned when their basement apartments flooded.
President Joe Biden visited Louisiana on Saturday and will head to badly-hit communities in New Jersey on Tuesday.
Play Video - People rescued on dinghy in New York floods
Rescue boats used in New York and New Jersey
His administration has already distributed $100m (£72m) to those affected in Louisiana alone.
Calling for national unity, he promised to "have your backs until this gets done" and said: "This isn't about being a Democrat or a Republican. We're Americans and we'll get through this together."
