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NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana: The US government ordered Thursday the evacuation of vessels and personnel working on the Gulf of Mexico oil spill due to an impending storm, including the rig drilling an all-important relief well.
"Due to the risk that Tropical Storm Bonnie poses to the safety of the nearly 2,000 people responding to the BP oil spill at the well site, many of the vessels and rigs will be preparing to move out of harm's way beginning tonight," said the US pointman on the disaster, retired Coast Guard admiral Thad Allen.
"This includes the rig drilling the relief well that will ultimately kill the well, as well as other vessels needed for containment," he said in a statement.
"Some of the vessels may be able to remain on site, but we will err on the side of safety."
Allen acknowledged "these actions may delay the effort to kill the well for several days," but said "the safety of the individuals at the well site is our highest concern."
He reiterated his earlier order that BP should keep the well capped and take steps to ensure that vessels charged with monitoring the well are the last to leave and the first to return.
- AFP/jm
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