Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.An unprecedented mission to the bottom of the sea to avert a wider environmental disaster progressed yesterday as crews said a 100-ton concrete-and-steel box was close to being placed over a blown-out well on the Gulf of Mexico floor to capture gushing oil.
The quest took on added urgency as oil reached several barrier islands off the Louisiana coast, many of them fragile animal habitats. Several birds were spotted diving into the oily, pinkish-brown water, and dead jellyfish washed up on the uninhabited islands.
Douglas Peake, the first mate of the supply boat that brought the box to the spill site, confirmed he received a radio transmission from the vessel lowering the device that said the device would soon be in position over the well .
The transmission said undersea robots were placing buoys around the main oil leak to act as markers to help to align the 40ft box. The box was about 4,000 feet underwater before dawn yesterday, with another 1,000 feet to go, Coast Guard Petty Officer Shawn Eggert said. Late on Thursday, a crane lowered the containment vessel designed to collect as much as 85 per cent of the oil spewing into the Gulf.
A separate mission was also imminent to reduce oil fumes on the rig drilling a relief well near the spill site.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments