Authorities struggle to contain massive oil spill in Gulf Coast

Today, the US Coast Guard said it would set fire to part of the oil spill in the Gulf Coast. The control burn is aimed at stopping the spread of the crude oil, which has reached as close as 20 miles to the coast of Louisiana.

The US Coast Guard has said that the spill could become one of "the most significant oil spills in US history" if it is not stopped soon. So far, attempts to shut off the flow of oil deep in the ocean have failed and 42-thousand gallons of crude oil are gushing into the waters each day. The spill spans a 600-mile circumference and strong currents have pushed the oil closer to the coasts of Louisiana and Alabama. The spill is the result of an explosion last week at an oil rig owned by British Petroleum. The explosion is presumed to have killed 11 workers and the cause is still under investigation.

Conditions are rapidly changing and joining us now is Aaron Viles, campaign director from the Gulf Restoration Network in New Orleans. He's been monitoring the situation both on and off the coast.

Updates on the situation from the Gulf Restoration Network: http://www.healthygulf.org/blog/