Growing fears over Gulf of Mexico oil leak

A US Coast Guard official says if leaks from an oil well in the Gulf of Mexico are not stemmed soon, they could cause one of the worst spills in US history.



Rear Admiral Mary Landry, who is in charge of the government clean-up effort, says work on sealing the leaks using several robotic submersibles could take months.



About one thousand barrels of oil a day are gushing into the sea.



An investigation has been ordered into the cause of the leak, which began when an oil rig exploded and sank last week.



The joint investigation, by the interior and homeland security departments, will have the power to compel witnesses to testify, and will look into possible violations by the operators of the rig, Transocean.