ON THE GULF OF MEXICO (AP) - A tropical depression is now racing toward the Gulf of Mexico. That's putting pressure on BP and the U.S. government to decide whether to evacuate dozens of ships at the site of the ruptured oil well.
The National Hurricane Center in Miami says a cluster of thunderstorms in the Bahamas formed into a tropical depression this morning. Forecasters say it could reach the well site within two and a half days.
Seas are already choppy in the Gulf. Waves up to 5 feet are rocking boats as they wait for orders on whether to leave.
If work crews are evacuated, it could be two weeks before they can resume the effort to permanently plug the well.
That work has already been halted. Crews stopped working on the relief tunnel that will be used to kill the well. Instead, they put a temporary plug deep inside the tunnel, in case it has to be abandoned during the storm.
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