A Day That Shook The World: Exxon Valdez oil spill

Thursday 24 March 2011 01:09 GMT

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On 24 March 1989 an Exxon Valdez oil tanker struck reef of the coast of Alaska, spilling around 750,000 barrels of oil.

Hailed as ‘the world’s worst oil spill’, it was the largest spill in US to-date and its remote location, near the Prince William Sound, seriously hampered efforts to stem the outflow of oil.

The crude oil spread a gooey sludge over miles of beautiful coastline, wreaking havoc on wildlife and industry.

Watch original British Pathe footage from the disaster (above)

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A Day That Shook The World: Exxon Valdez oil spill

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