Clean-up crews are working day and night to remove 100,000 gallons of oil that fouled a stretch of California coastline after a pipeline ruptured Tuesday. It is the biggest oil spill in the Santa Barbara area since 1969.
Approximately 300 clean-up workers are combing the beaches, scooping up oil- and tar-covered sand.
One of the volunteers said the effort would take “weeks, if not months.”
Coast Guard Captain Jennifer Williams told Reuters the clean-up will involve scrubbing soiled rocks and hosing down contaminated areas.
Clean-up operation has started after oil spill at California shore pic.twitter.com/eTuLeJj18R
— Andrés Benedicto (@_abenedicto) May 20, 2015
Nine ships are assisting in cleaning up the stretch of affected ocean. Three are scooping up oil from the surface, while six are containing the oil slick with booms.
New images show the extent of the #SantaBarbara County oil spill and emergency efforts: http://t.co/WQTBIbiJrCpic.twitter.com/Hq4OpLmvLS
— Greenpeace USA (@greenpeaceusa) May 20, 2015
Clean-up crews are asking for more buckets, gloves, shovels, water, and volunteers.
Volunteers need More buckets, gloves, shovels, water, and people to help clean up Refugio St Beach #oilspillpic.twitter.com/hNf5JwZjT9
— Senerey DeLosSantos (@KEYTNC3Senerey) May 20, 2015
Fishing and shellfish harvesting in the area has been suspended until further notice.
.@latimes chartered a helicopter to see the Santa Barbara oil spill from above. Sobering: http://t.co/4EIHxAWoJfpic.twitter.com/1owaoTBJPQ
— Laura J. Nelson (@laura_nelson) May 20, 2015
READ MORE: Busted pipeline leaks 21,000 gallons of oil off California coast
Two popular seaside destinations, Refugio State Beach and El Capitan State Beach, will remain closed to the public during the upcoming Memorial Day holiday weekend.
#TBT, good times, waves and pristine ocean & beaches in what's now the Refugio/El Cap oil spill zone. https://t.co/qAM4MrmP5R
— senders (@senders) May 21, 2015