By: John Vibes,
Early this morning a large oil spill occurred on the streets of Los Angeles, creating a river of oil that contaminated several blocks, and shut down businesses throughout the area.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3l9V_HsNTpM
The oil was released from a ruptured pipeline that has since been remotely cut off to stop the flow of oil. Unfortunately, even after the pipeline was cut off, oil continued to flow into the street for nearly an hour, as emergency crews attempted to get the situation under control.
The Los Angeles Fire Department told reporters that the oil level was knee-high in some areas of the streets before the clean-up started.
According to Fire Captain Jaime Moore, the geyser of crude oil shot 20 feet into the air and sailed nearly a half mile across the sky before it landed.
Several businesses including a health clinic and a strip club were evacuated.
“This oil comes from the Bakersfield area, this is a pumping transfer station and pumping transfer station then transfers the oil to a storage facility in Long Beach,” Batallion Chief David Spence told NBC News.
The first reports of the incident suggested that 50,000 gallons of oil were released, but now the estimates coming from mainstream news sources have downgraded that number to 10,000 gallons.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFbN3jv6Fz8
Initial reports had also said that there were no injuries, however, hours later workers from the area begin to visit the local hospital, complaining that they were sick from the fumes that were emanating from the river of oil on the streets.
At the time that this article is being published, crews are still on the scene dealing with the cleanup. Massive vacuums and absorbent sponges are being used to clean up the oil.
Once the oil is nearly removed, power washers and special soap will be used to clean the streets and surrounding buildings. However, it is uncertain as to weather this spill will ever be fully cleaned up.
