Black oil is washing ashore, at least one person drowned in the viscous oil slick, and efforts to clean up the mess are floundering.

That might sound like the Gulf of Mexico, but it is actually happening along the coast of Dalian, where China is grappling with its largest reported oil spill in recent memory. China’s rapid economic growth has come at great environmental cost, but this appears to be the first time that oil has caused so much natural damage. The leak may have been stopped, but the bad news is still flowing furiously: the slick has grown to 430 sq km, doubling in size since earlier this week, and has claimed at least one human life.

The government’s clean-up efforts have been energetic but – just as in the Mexican gulf – hampered by poor equipment and preparation. Some 40 skimming vessels, 15km of boom and 23 tons of oil-eating bacteria are being used to disperse and remove the oil, according to state media. CNPC, which co-owns the damaged pipelines along with Dalian Port, has also been involved in clean-up efforts.