Oil spill threatens Southern California wildlife and closes beaches while Coast Guard investigates source of leak

Officials warned of an “environmental catastrophe” on Sunday after more than 120,000 gallons of oil leaked from a rig and washed up on beaches south of Los Angeles, threatening wildlife and closing popular shores.

Shortly before midnight local time, officials had yet to confirm that the leak had been fully stopped, said Petty Officer Richard Brahm, a spokesman for the Coast Guard, adding that the rig was still being evaluated.

The oil spill, a few miles offshore from Newport Beach and Huntington Beach, was first reported Saturday and leaked about 126,000 gallons spanning 13 square miles, officials said. The emergency sent people scrambling to contain the fallout and protect sensitive habitats.

“This oil spill constitutes one of the most devastating situations that our community has dealt with in decades,” Huntington Beach Mayor Pro Tem Kim Carr said during a news conference on Sunday. She said authorities are looking at how to hold accountable the responsible parties and warned there will be “a lot more hitting our shores over the next few days.”

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