Florida under threat as oil slick expands

EMERGENCY crews rushed to protect fragile shorelines and islands as the Gulf of Mexico oil slick expanded, prompting a mobilisation of more national guard troops and alerts as far as the Florida Keys.

With oil still gushing yesterday from the ruptured offshore well, volunteers and others descended on the region to help stave off a looming environmental crisis from the huge oil patch.

Pentagon officials authorised the use of additional National Guard troops to assist. As many as 6,000 in Louisiana can be mobilised, with 3,000 in Alabama, 2,500 in Florida and 6,000 in Mississippi.