Oil Rig Explodes Off Louisiana Coast; 1 Worker Injured
September 2, 2010 at 8:31 AM by AHN · Leave a Comment
New Orleans, LA, United States (AHN) – Another oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico has erupted into flames following an explosion. Rescue crews from New Orleans and Houston on a fleet of helicopters and boats are headed to the scene.
According to early reports at approximately 9:30 a.m. Thursday, a commercial helicopter pilot reported the explosion and fire at the rig located 80 miles south of Vermilion Bay.
The rig is owned by Mariner Energy and is west of the infamous BP Deepwater Horizon site and flashpoint for the recent oil spill disaster.
All 13 workers on board the rig are reported safe and accounted for. Only one person is said to have sustained injuries, although the extent is not known.
The workers are said to be floating in the water, with 12 of them in immersion suits.
It remains unknown at this time if the rig is leaking oil.
