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Gulf of Mexico oil platform fire: 4 dead and 16 injured in blaze | Gulf of Mexico oil platform fire: 4 dead and 16 injured in blaze |
(about 2 hours later) | |
At least four people have died and 16 others have been injured after a fire broke out at an oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico, the nation's state-owned oil company has said. | At least four people have died and 16 others have been injured after a fire broke out at an oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico, the nation's state-owned oil company has said. |
Some 300 workers were evacuated from the Abkatun Permanente shallow-water platform in the Campeche Sound, according Petroleos Mexicanos, or Pemex. | Some 300 workers were evacuated from the Abkatun Permanente shallow-water platform in the Campeche Sound, according Petroleos Mexicanos, or Pemex. |
The firm tweeted that an earlier death toll of one had risen to four, and that one the fatalities was a contractor for the Mexican oil services company Cotemar. In an earlier statement, the company said that two of the injured workers were in a serious condition. | |
As many as eight firefighting boats are now trying to extinguish the flames. | As many as eight firefighting boats are now trying to extinguish the flames. |
A video from the scene showed huge plumes of black smoke rising from a raging blaze. | |
It was unclear whether any significant amount of oil had spilled into the Gulf. | It was unclear whether any significant amount of oil had spilled into the Gulf. |
Those injured in the incident are now currently being treated at a hospital in Campeche, Mexico's Energy Security Agency said. | Those injured in the incident are now currently being treated at a hospital in Campeche, Mexico's Energy Security Agency said. |
It added that the blaze "is being extinguished". | It added that the blaze "is being extinguished". |
The platform is located in the Campeche Sound, near the coast of the states of Campeche and Tabasco. | The platform is located in the Campeche Sound, near the coast of the states of Campeche and Tabasco. |
The tragic fire comes a 2007 blaze at the Kab 121 offshore rig which is in the area. | The tragic fire comes a 2007 blaze at the Kab 121 offshore rig which is in the area. |
That accident was caused when high waves hit the rig, sending a boom crashing into an oil platform's valve assembly. The accident killed at least 21 workers and the rig spilled crude and natural gas for almost two months. | That accident was caused when high waves hit the rig, sending a boom crashing into an oil platform's valve assembly. The accident killed at least 21 workers and the rig spilled crude and natural gas for almost two months. |
Mexico's worst major spill in the Gulf was in June 1979, when an offshore drilling rig in Mexican waters - the Ixtoc I - blew up, releasing 140 million gallons of oil. | Mexico's worst major spill in the Gulf was in June 1979, when an offshore drilling rig in Mexican waters - the Ixtoc I - blew up, releasing 140 million gallons of oil. |
It took Pemex and a series of US contractors nearly nine months to cap the well, and a great deal of the oil contaminated Mexican and US waters. | It took Pemex and a series of US contractors nearly nine months to cap the well, and a great deal of the oil contaminated Mexican and US waters. |
More to follow | More to follow |
Additional reporting by PA | Additional reporting by PA |