Panicked drivers queued in long lines at petrol stations across the Charlotte area as they rushed to fill their cars in the wake of the Colonial Pipeline closure.
The pipeline supplies the East Coast of America with about 45 per cent of its fuel but has now been offline for four days after a cyber attack.
Ransomware, which President Joe Biden believes came from Russia, forced the company to shut down pipeline controls system for safety reasons.
State of emergency declared amid fuel shortage
As fears grow over fuel shortages, North Carolina governor Roy Cooper declared a state of emergency to help ensure adequate supplies are delivered.
“Today’s emergency declaration will help North Carolina prepare for any potential motor vehicle fuel supply interruptions across the state and ensure motorists are able to have access to fuel,” Cooper said in a release.
The shutdown is also impacting flights out of Charlotte. American Airlines confirmed long-haul flights to Honolulu and London will…