The 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill caused $17.2 billion in natural resource damages and devastated marine life.
The BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010 resulted in $17.2 billion in natural resource damages, according to estimates. The disaster released 134 million gallons (4.9 million barrels) of oil into the Gulf of Mexico over 87 days, making it one of history’s worst accidental spills.
The spill killed approximately 1 million birds, hundreds of thousands of sea turtles, and billions of marine organisms. Prior incidents, such as the Exxon Valdez spill, pale in comparison to the scale of environmental and economic impact recorded here.
BP has faced ongoing legal and financial repercussions, with settlements and cleanup costs continuing to weigh on its operations.