Oil Slick Still Growing Despite U.S. Bombing Run

DHAHRAN, Saudi Arabia —  A giant oil slick threatening marine life and drinking-water plants in the Persian Gulf is growing despite a U.S. bombing raid that halted the flow of crude from a Kuwaiti terminal, U.S. military officials said today.

Air Force Capt. Barclay Trehal said aerial photography showed thick, black oil was still spewing into the Persian Gulf from other sources in Kuwait and Iraq, adding to what is already the biggest slick in history.

“There is very extensive pollution. It’s easily 100 miles by 30 or 40 miles and spreading. It’s being spread from various sources,” he said.

Allied forces say Iraq deliberately caused the slick by opening the taps at the Mina al-Ahmadi terminal in occupied Kuwait and dumping crude from five Iraqi tankers.

Iraq blamed the slick on allied raids against its tankers and oil pipelines.

Trehal said oil was still gushing from a tanker split in half, oil derricks, and coastal oil installations in Kuwait and Iraq.

“You can see the oil spewing out into the gulf and flowing in the current. Oil is coming from coastal oil installations in Kuwait and Iraq,” he said.

A British military commander said Tuesday that allied forces had destroyed 75% to 80% of Iraq’s refining capacity.

Saudi officials said they had stepped up efforts to protect water intakes at industrial plants.