Latest developments

June 25, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

A summary of events Thursday, Day 65 of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill:

OILED FLORIDA

In Florida, thick pools of oil washed up along miles of national park and Pensacola Beach shoreline Wednesday as health advisories against swimming and fishing in the once-pristine waters were extended for 33 miles east from the Alabama line. An oily young dolphin beached in the sand in the Gulf Islands National Seashore died before it could be taken to a rehabilitation center.

ANOTHER SETBACK

Earlier this month, BP boldly predicted the oil gushing from the bottom of the sea would be reduced to a “relative trickle” within days, and President Barack Obama told the nation last week that as much as 90 percent would soon be captured. But those goals seemed wildly optimistic Thursday after yet another setback a mile underwater. A deep-sea robot bumped into the cap collecting oil from the well, forcing a temporary halt Wednesday to the company’s best effort yet to contain the leak. The cap was back in place Thursday, but frustration and skepticism were running high along the Gulf Coast.

WORST-CASE ESTIMATE

The current worst-case estimate of what’s spewing into the Gulf is about 2.5 million gallons a day. Anywhere from 67 million to 127 million gallons have spilled since the April 20 explosion on the Deepwater Horizon rig that killed 11 workers and blew out the well 5,000 feet underwater. BP PLC was leasing the rig from owner Transocean Ltd.

Source: Associated Press