Deepwater Horizon Spill

The Deepwater Horizon spill was a major oil disaster that occurred in April 2010 when an offshore drilling rig, operated by BP, experienced a blowout. This led to the uncontrolled release of an estimated 4.9 million barrels of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico over 87 days. The spill caused extensive environmental damage, affecting marine life, coastal ecosystems, and local economies. It resulted in significant legal and financial repercussions for BP and heightened awareness about the risks of offshore drilling and the importance of environmental protections. The incident remains one of the worst environmental disasters in U.S. history.