US President Barack Obama said Wednesday more needs to be done to prevent oil spills, while pledging to continue efforts to restore the southern coastline one year after the devastating accident in the Gulf of Mexico, dpa reported
Obama paid tribute to the 11 men who lost their lives following the explosion on the BP-Deepwater Horizon drilling rig and subsequent spill that wreaked havoc on the environment and fishery and tourism industries.
"Today, we remember the 11 lives lost as a result of this tragic event and thank the thousands of responders who worked to mitigate this disaster," Obama said in a statement. "But we also keep a watchful eye on the continuing and important work required to ensure that the Gulf Coast recovers stronger than before."
The explosion on April 20, 2010 resulted in the unleashing of 4.9 million barrels of oil into the ocean and took months to stop before it was finally sealed in September. Obama called it a "catastrophic event" that "deeply affected the lives of millions of Americans."
"We continue to hold BP and other responsible parties fully accountable for the damage they've done and the painful losses that they've caused," Obama said
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