NEW ORLEANS — Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said those responsible for a massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico will be held accountable.

Federal officials are investigating what caused an oil rig to explode and sink in the gulf, killing 11 people. More than 100 people escaped the blast, but an oil sheen has already reached the Louisiana coastline.

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal said at the same news conference today officials are doing everything they can to protect the state's fragile coastline from the oil slick, which is growing as oil spews from the seabed.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said the federal government will continue to push BP, which operated the rig, for a strong response to the spill.

By The Associated Press