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| 'Serious' blaze on oil platform | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A major rescue operation is underway after a "very serious" fire broke out on a North Sea platform with 159 people on board. | |
| Seven helicopters were scrambled to the Thistle Alpha after smoke and flames were seen at 0830 GMT on Sunday. | |
| A spokesman for RAF Kinloss said the incident was being treated "very seriously" but added there were currently no reports of casualties. | A spokesman for RAF Kinloss said the incident was being treated "very seriously" but added there were currently no reports of casualties. |
| The Thistle Alpha is 120 miles north east of Sumburgh in Shetland. | The Thistle Alpha is 120 miles north east of Sumburgh in Shetland. |
| The first 44 crew members were evacuated shortly before 1000 GMT. The entire crew is due to be taken from the platform later. | The first 44 crew members were evacuated shortly before 1000 GMT. The entire crew is due to be taken from the platform later. |
| Helicopters from the RAF, coastguard and other platforms in the area were sent to the scene along with two Norwegian helicopters. | |
| The platform is operated by Swedish-based Lundin Petroleum, which is involved in oil exploration and production across the globe. | |
| A coastguard spokesman said: "We are conducting a de-manning of all non-essential personnel due to a fire on board the rig." |