A tropical storm is heading toward the oil spill site in the Gulf of Mexico, but BP has still made no progress in efforts to contain the gushing oil, Press TV reported.
The US National Weather Service forecasted a tropical storm, which had dumped heavy amounts of rain on the Caribbean countries of the Dominican Republic and Haiti, had a chance of turning into a depression, Reuters reported on Friday.
The season's first named storm, Alex, might develop wind velocity in excess of 70 kilometers per hour, which might head for the United States in the Gulf of Mexico, the report added.
BP is still struggling to stop the spill, 68 days after an explosion ripped through a Gulf of Mexico oil rig, killing 11 people.
According to the current plan, all ships and siphoning equipment would be moved away from the area five days before the storm reaches the site.
Environmentalists say that would mean that oil would be pouring into the ocean unchecked for at least 14 days.
Meanwhile, reports of a storm which could impact crude oil extraction off the coast of Mexico caused a leap in oil prices on Friday.
AFP reported that light sweet crude and Brent North Sea crude for August delivery gained 2.35 dollars and 1.65 dollars respectively from Thursday's close.
...