Fears for workers after rig explosion
At least 11 people are missing after an explosion and fire at an oil drilling platform operated by BP in the Gulf of Mexico.
The US Coast Guard said the explosion happened last night at the Deepwater Horizon, owned by Transocean, around 40 miles south-east of Venice, Louisiana, while 126 workers were aboard. The rig was still burning today.
A coast guard spokesman said at least 11 – and possibly as many as 15 – people were missing. Seven workers were airlifted to hospitals, two of them to a burn unit.
Many workers who escaped the rig were being taken to shore on a boat while rescuers looked for any signs of lifeboats.
The coast guard spokesman said: “It's burning pretty good and there's no estimate on when the fire will be put out.
“We’re hoping everyone’s in a life raft,” he said.
Transocean said the rig was drilling but was not in production.
