Oil rig explodes in Gulf of Mexico; 2 dead, 2 missing (coast guard now saying no deaths, 11 injured)
Oil rig explodes in Gulf of Mexico; 2 dead, 2 missing
Two people were killed, two were missing and four were airlifted to a hospital Friday after an oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, according to local officials.
Rescue crews searched the Gulf some 17 miles southeast of Grand Isle, La., for the missing workers. The injured are in critical condition, according to Jefferson Parish Emergency Management.
The fire was later extinguished, the U.S. Coast Guard said. Twenty-eight people had been aboard the rig at the time of the accident.
The platform was not actively producing oil and no spill was immediately sighted, the Coast Guard said.
It does not appear the incident could lead to a major environmental disaster, Coast Guard Capt. Peter Gautier said.
He said initial reports suggested that the explosion occurred when maintenance workers cut into a pipe and oil escaped.
http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/11/16/15219089-oil-rig-explodes-in-gulf-of-mexico-2-dead-2-missing?lite
EDIT***: Coast Guard: Despite reports, no confirmed deaths in oil rig fire, 11 people brought to hospitals
2nd edit: Link to video: http://www.wwltv.com/news/live-video
3rd: add pic:
:large
= new reply since forum marked as read
