Houston - US President Barack Obama's administration has mounted a "relentless response" to the oil spill unleashed by the sinking of an offshore drill rig in the Gulf of Mexico.
Obama on Sunday met with local, state and federal officials involved in the clean-up efforts in southeastern Louisiana, the closest stretch of coastline threatened by the massive spill triggered by the sinking of the Deepwater Horizon rig off the Louisiana coast.
He admitted that even with "the most advanced technology available," the spill may not be stopped for many days.
"I'm not going to rest, and none of the gentlemen and women who are here are going to rest or be satisfied, until the leak is stopped at the source, the oil on the Gulf is contained and cleaned up and the people of this region are able to go back to their lives and their livelihoods.
"We will spare no resource to clean up whatever damage is caused," he said.
On 20 April, an explosion occurred at the Deepwater Horizon rig, located about 42 km southeast of Venice, Louisiana. Eleven workers were killed.
The rig, owned by Transocean and leased by BP, sank on 22 April after burning for roughly 36 hours, and the untapped wellhead is gushing oil into the Gulf of Mexico.
About 1.6 million gallons of oil has spilled since the explosion, according to the Coast Guard.
