Syrian oil spill spreads across the Mediterranean and could reach Cyprus on Wednesday

Satellite images show the oil spill was larger than originally thought, now covering around 800 square kilometres -- an area around the same size as New York City.

Syrian officials said last week that a tank filled with 15,000 tons of fuel had been leaking since August 23 at a thermal power plant on the Syrian coastal city of Baniyas. They said they had been able to bring it under control.