Video: '1989: Exxon Valdez tanker spill'

(Friday, March 24, 1989, 12:04 a.m. AKST) — Exxon Valdez, an oil tanker owned by Exxon Shipping Company, bound for Long Beach, California, struck Prince William Sound’s Bligh Reef, 1.5 miles west of Tatitlek, Alaska, this morning and spilled 10.8 million U.S. gallons (260,000 barrels) of crude oil over the next few days.

It is considered to be one of the most devastating human-caused environmental disasters.

The oil, originally extracted at the Prudhoe Bay oil field, eventually covered 1,300 miles of coastline, and 11,000 square miles of ocean.

Video: '?he ?xxon ?aldez ?il ?pill (Full ?ocumentary) - ?istory ?hannel'

Immediate effects included the deaths of 100,000 to as many as 250,000 seabirds, at least 2,800 sea otters, approximately 12 river otters, 300 harbor seals, 247 bald eagles, and 22 orcas, and an unknown number of salmon and herring.

Multiple factors have been identified as contributing to the incident, including Exxon’s failure to provide a rested and sufficient crew for Exxon Valdez.

Video: 'ABC News: Images of the 80's 12/26/89' (Exxon Valdez oil spill at 27:24)