US president Barack Obama has spoken about the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico, labelling it as a “potentially unprecedented” environmental disaster.

The President was visiting Louisiana to see for himself the damage the oil has caused. The slick is now 14km off the coast of south-eastern Louisiana and growing daily.

President Obama said: “The oil that is still leaking from the well could seriously damage the economy and the environment of our Gulf States. And it could extend for a long time.”

US coastguards say it is impossible to determine how much oil is leaking from the Deepwater Horizon, but it is estimated at around 200,000 gallons of oil a day.

The oil spill is spreading due to winds and choppy seas. Experts fear that if it keeps spreading, it could become the worst oil spill in US history.

Deepwater Horizon exploded on 22 April, killing 11 workers and sinking soon after. BP own the sunken rig and President Obama has said they must take responsibility and pay for
the disaster.