Blaze breaks out as workers attempt to plug leak with heavy mud to stop oil slick which is threatening marine wildlife

A massive fire has broken out on an Austalian oil rig and delayed plans to plug the leak that has been spilling oil into the Timor Sea since August.

The blaze started on Sunday when workers began pumping heavy mud into a leaking well casing. An estimated 400 barrels of oil a day have escaped from the hole since 21 August, threatening marine wildlife over an area ten times the size of London.

Australia's government today promised an investigation, the latest drama ...

Read the whole story on Environment: Wildlife | guardian.co.uk