Today Marks Five Years Since the Deepwater Horizon Disaster

Deepwater Horizon burns in the Gulf of Mexico, April 21, 2010. Photo: U.S. Coast Guard

Five years ago today, eleven lives were lost and 17 others were injured when the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig suffered a catastrophic blowout in the Gulf of Mexico approximately 41 miles off the Louisiana coast.

In the three months that followed, an estimated 134 million gallons of oil leaked uncontrolled from the wellhead at a depth of more than 4,900 feet below the surface of the Gulf – the worst offshore oil spill in U.S. history.

Much of the tragedy was chronicled in real time on gCaptain’s forum via a thread that was started by readers who were witness to the incident.

Today, remember the 11 lives lost in the disaster.

Subscribe for Daily Maritime Insights

Sign up for gCaptain’s newsletter and never miss an update

— trusted by our 109,142 members