Oil spills occur when large quantities of oil are discharged into oceans or seas during drilling operations, cleaning of tankers and leaks from pipelines and storage tanks, an accident or explosion on a tanker or an offshore drilling rig. Most cases of oil spills are almost always a severe case of man-made disaster as they cause long term damage to the ocean and its marine life.
Effects — Some of the chemicals from the oil kill many forms of marine life and coral reefs. Other chemicals leave a residue black layer on the feathers of birds and the fur of mammals, causing them to die or drown. If an oil reaches the coast, it destroys fishing and tourism.
