Gulf rig fire leaves 4 hurt, 2 missing; no leak
By The Associated Press
This article was originally published November 16, 2012 at 10:25 a.m. Updated November 16, 2012 at 12:34 p.m.
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VENICE, La. — An explosion and fire ripped through a Gulf oil platform Friday as workers used a cutting torch, sending four people to a hospital with burns and leaving two missing in waters off Louisiana.
Coast Guard Capt. Ed Cubanski said at a news conference in New Orleans that the well was not producing at the time and no oil was leaking. A small amount of oil spilled from the rig when workers using a torch cut into a 75-foot-long, 3-inch-wide line on the platform. Cubanski said a sheen one-half mile long and 200 yards wide was reported in the area.
“It’s not going to be an uncontrolled discharge from everything we’re getting right now,” Cubanski said.
The fire had since been extinguished, said Coast Guard spokesman Drake Fore. He said Coast Guard aircraft and boats were searching for two missing people. Nobody was believed killed in the fire.
Taslin Alfonzo, spokesman for West Jefferson Medical Center in suburban New Orleans, said four injured workers were taken to the hospital in critical condition with second- and third-degree burns over much of their bodies. Three arrived by helicopter at 9:55 a.m. and one by helicopter at 10:10 CST.
Two were sent by ambulance to the Baton Rouge Burn Center. Two others were to be sent later. She could not release identities or any other information.
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HM2 says... November 16, 2012 at 7:31 p.m.
Looks like Obama's trying to extort more money from the oil companies
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