On April 5, 2010, the BP-operated Deepwater Horizon oil drilling rig suffered an explosion, killing 11 workers and causing the largest marine oil spill in U.S. history. Over 4.9 million barrels of oil were released into the Gulf of Mexico, devastating marine life and local economies. The spill led to extensive environmental damage, and the cleanup effort became one of the most costly in history. BP faced lawsuits and billions of dollars in fines, while the disaster raised awareness about the risks of deepwater drilling. The effects of the spill are still being felt in the Gulf region.