A mile-long oil sheen spread from an offshore oil platform burning in the Gulf of Mexico today.

STAFF at a BP oil spill response centre in Louisiana are preparing for a long battle as they try to contain the “blob” of oil from a ruptured Gulf of Mexico well that is fouling coastal waters and beaches.

Hundreds of determined Louisiana locals insisted they would stay put as their neighbours fled Hurricane Gustav’s approach by the thousands today.

TROPICAL Storm Matthew, the 13th named storm of the 2004 hurricane season, flooded roads and homes across southeastern Louisiana as it blew toward the Gulf of Mexico with high tides and torrential rainfall.