Environment - 'Drop in the ocean' now seen from space

Yesterday, May 13th, BP boss, Tony Hayward sparked outrage. The Chief Executive of the oil giant played down the extent of the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico.


Mr Hayward effectivly implied that the spill was no more than a drop in the ocean. He said "The volume of oil and dispersant we are putting into it is tiny in relation to the total water volume.’


The same day NASA released shocking photographs showing the extent of the spill, which can now be seen from space.

This picture shows the extent of the spill. More can be found by clicking here.

Greenpeace and many others have reacted angrily to Mr Hayward's comments are feel BP are not capable of fixing the problem. While Mexico and America face an environmental crisis, BP are facing financial turmoil.

The clean-up costs are suggested to be reaching $33 million a day. The oil firm have also admitted that it faces up to 100 lawsuits and 6,700 compensation claims.

The rig, operated by Transocean sank three weeks ago, 11 lives were lost. Since then oil continues to spill out at the rate of 5,000 barrels a day.