Tropical depression races toward BP’s leaky well

— A tropical depression heading toward the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday increased pressure on BP and the U.S. government to decide whether to evacuate dozens of ships at the site of the ruptured oil well.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami said a cluster of thunderstorms in the Bahamas formed a tropical depression Thursday morning. It could reach the spill site within two and a half days, said Lexion Avila, a senior hurricane specialist.

Seas already were choppy in the Gulf, with waves up to five feet rocking boats as crews waited for orders on whether to leave. Nonessential vessels like barges and skimmers will likely be sent back to shore, Commander Terri Jordan told the crew of the Coast Guard cutter Decisive at a midmorning briefing.

She said they were awaiting an evacuation order for key vessels.

Work on plugging the well is at a standstill just days before the expected completion of a relief tunnel to permanently throttle the free-flowing crude.

Read tomorrow's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

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