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Oil Spill Worsens Floods

Malfunction at Kansas factory unleashes gallons of crude into water torrents

By Caroline Zimmerman, Newser User

Posted Jul 3, 2007 2:30 PM CDT

(Newser) – The floods overwhelming the Midwest worsened today as 42,000 gallons of crude oil accidentally released from a refinery on Sunday made its way farther downstream. A malfunction at a plant in Coffeyville, Kan., on the Oklahoma border, contaminated flood waters with a thick, pungent layer of sludge that threatens residents' health and the local economy, the AP reports.

The toxic slop spread into Oklahoma's Oologah Lake early today but was at the opposite end of the lake from the intakes that feed the water supply for nearby communities, including Tulsa. Meanwhile, the forecast remains grim for the tourism industry. The spill, and the floods in general, are keeping vacationers indoors and sapping state parks' coffers.

[Images (4)]

[Videos (3)]

A motorist stalls amid floodwaters covering Bryce Avenue in Fort Worth, Texas, Wednesday, June 27, 2007. Lashing storms dumped up to 18 inches of rain on parts of central Texas, flooding several towns... (Associated Press)

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius talks with a congressional delegation while flying over flooding near Chanute, Kan., Monday, July 2, 2007. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner,pool) (Associated Press)

Flood water from the Marais Des Cygnes River closes a road near Osawatomie, Kan., Sunday, July 1, 2007. Flooding worsened across southeast Kansas and southwest Missouri Sunday as high water levels forced... (Associated Press)

al Guard was deployed to help with a mandatory evacuation of the city as workers struggled to reinforce a levee on the Marais des Cygne. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner) (Associated Press)

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Sunday 1 July 2007, Osawatomie Kansas Flooding (Srovets (YouTube))

Moo Tube (lckrings (YouTube))

Sky News - 25th June 2007 - Flooding (Part 1 of 2) (davepusey (YouTube))

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Oil Spill Worsens Floods