The state of Louisiana's governor has declared a state of emergency due to the Deepwater Horizon oil rig that exploded on April 20 and left 11 workers missing and presumed dead.
An unfolding environmental crisis resulted as the spill made its way within 20km of the US coastline by Thursday.
The spill was expected to hit land by Friday.
The US government says that it is doing everything it can to minimise environmental damage following the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, but says that British oil giant BP will have to shoulder the blame for the disaster.
Al Jazeera's Tom Ackerman reports from the US state of Mississippi, where the oil threatens a number of environmental and commercial interests.
[29 April 2010]
