initial leak was first reported on June 18, 2010 but many believe it began days before. Although damage has been reported to be minimal an environmental group in the area reported the leak had restarted once the statement was released, damaging the surrounding areas even further. The Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Association (HEPA) reported that hundreds of birds, turtles, and other wild life had been killed, but the government reported almost no deaths of wild life. The amount of oil that had leaked is still unknown, this has critics asking the government further questions as to why they have released such little information. Also the government is unable to determine the source of the spill or how it began. Few media outlets reported on this oil spill due to the BP oil spill which overshadowed this issue. The BP oil spill which was one of the largest accidental oil spills in history. It happened weeks before the Egypt oil spill had occurred. See also List of oil spills References 2010 industrial disasters 2010 in Egypt Oil spills in Africa Oil platform disasters Man-made disasters in Egypt 2010 in the environment 2010 disasters in Egypt