| The Prestige oil tanker sank approximately 130 miles off the
coast of Spain. At the time it was carrying more than 19.6 million
gallons of oil. |
| It all started when one
of the Prestige's oil tanks was ripped open in a storm. Over
the next couple of days the overall condition of the ship
deteriorated rapidly. Finally, a large piece of the Prestige's
hull broke off and the oil began to pour out into the water. |
This spill is widely regarded
as the worst environmental disaster in Spanish history. The
fishing industry which existed in the area of the spill suffered
greatly as a result of the spill and may never fully recover.
All in all, thousands of miles of coastline were damaged. |
