Fire in Gulf of Mexico Resembles the Eye of Sauron
The Claim
The Eye of Sauron has appeared in the Gulf of Mexico.
Emerging story
Following the reveal of video clips showing an enormous raging fire in the Gulf of Mexico, several social media users claimed that it was the Dark Lord of Mordor, Sauron. Users reach this conclusion because the fire bears a strong resemblance to the portrayal of Sauron in the movie adaptation of The Lord of the Rings: as a lidless eye, wreathed in flames.
Misbar’s Analysis
Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on your views on Orcs), there is very little chance that the fire in the Gulf is actually the Eye of Sauron from J.R.R. Tolkien’s books. However, the incident is still concerning.
The fire was actually the result of an industrial accident at the Ku-Maloob-Zaap oil development platform, although the exact cause of the fire has not yet been revealed by Pemex, the Mexican state-owned petroleum company that owns it. Several hours after it first began, the fire was extinguished by emergency fire-fighting boats. According to a spokesman in charge of the Mexican agency which regulates pipeline safety, no oil was spilled into the water.
Despite a relatively quick recovery, many remain skeptical of the incident, and of offshore drilling in general. It is a profitable business, but one which has deadly and long-lasting consequences when disasters occur.
