August 2010 Current Events: Disasters & Science News

Updated August 5, 2020 | Infoplease Staff

World News | Business News | U.S. News

Here are the key events in Science and Disasters news for the month of August 2010.

• U.S. Scientists Estimate BP Oil Spill Leaked 5 Million Barrels (Aug. 2): U.S. scientists estimate that the BP oil spill, which occured after the April 20 explosion on the Deepwater Horizon rig, has leaked 5 million barrels of oil into the Gulf Coast, making it the world's largest oil spill of its kind. It surpassed the 1979 disaster from the Mexican oil rig, Ixtoc I, which leaked 3.3 million barrels of oil. Only about 800,000 barrels of oil have been captured and contained. (Aug. 4): Only about 26% of the oil that spilled from the rig is still in the Gulf of Mexico, according to a government report, and poses little risk of harm to people or animal life. The rest has evaporated, dispersed, or been captured and eliminated.
• Disgruntled Employee Opens Fire on Workplace, Kills 8, Self (Aug. 3): An employee being given a disclipinary hearing at Hartford Distributors in Manchester, Connecticut, opens fire in the warehouse and kills eight people, then himself. The man, Omar Thornton was a driver for the company; he had allegedly been caught stealing beer, and was told by his bosses that he must resign from his job or be fired, before he pulled out a handgun and proceeded to start shooting.
• Former Senator Ted Stevens Dies in Plane Crash (Aug. 10): Former Senator Ted Stevens (Rep., AK) dies in a small plane crash, along with 4 others, in a remote area of Alaska. After serving six terms in the U.S. Senate, Stevens lost his seat after being found guilty of corruption, charges that were eventually dropped. He was 86.
• At Least 1,600 Now Estimated Dead in Pakistan Floods (Aug. 12): After two weeks of catastrophic flooding in the country of Pakistan, the UN now estimates that at least 1,600 people have been killed and 14 million displaced from their homes. They warn that there is still more devastation to come in the country.