NEW ORLEANS — Oil leaking from a sunken drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico oozed slowly toward the coast today, endangering hundreds of miles of marshes, barrier islands and white sand beaches in four states from Louisiana to Florida.

The areas, home to dolphins, sea birds, prime fishing grounds and tourist playlands, could be fouled later this week if crews can't cut off an estimated 42,000 gallons a day escaping two leaks in a drilling pipe about 5,000 feet below the surface.

The rig Deepwater Horizon, owned by Transocean and operated by BP, exploded April 20 and sank two days later about 40 miles off the Mississippi River delta. Eleven of the 126 workers on board at the time are missing and presumed dead; the rest escaped. The cause of the explosion has not been determined and oil has been leaking ever since.

As of this afternoon, it covered an area that was 48 miles long by 39 miles wide.

By The Associated Press