US and Cuba hold talks on oil spill

U.S. and Cuban officials are holding talks on how to respond to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill that could soon affect Cuba’s northern beaches.

There is concern that strong currents could carry the slick down to the Florida Keys and into Cuban waters. The talks were a rare cooperation between the two countries.

It is not known if the US offered assistance to Cuba in the event of the oil reaching its shores but US officials said they presented all the background information to the Cuban government.

Also yesterday, the Bahamian government says it will seek to recover damages from BP if the oil reaches the islands.

Experts have expressed growing concern that the oil will reach the “loop” a warm water current that begins in the Gulf of Mexico and wraps around Florida. It’s possible that if the oil reaches the loop it will carry the oil though the keys and up Florida’s east coast.