12 Killed at Oil Platform Fire
A fire destroyed an oil platform near India resulting in a death toll of 12 with 16 people missing. From The Tribune:
The mishap happened when a vessel owned by the SCI, buoyed by choppy seas, crashed onto the oil rig setting off a fire. As the installation erupted into flames, most of the 384 employees on the rig jumped into the sea.Rescuers were trying to reach the six divers trapped in the debris of the crashed platform, CG officials said. So far, 367 persons have been rescued after Naval ships and Coast Guard vessels commenced rescue operations.
ONGC officials say, the casualties were kept low as its support vessels based nearby plunged into action and began picking up those who jumped into the sea. Naval helicopters were also pressed into action and several survivors and some bodies were picked up.
It’s amazing that so many people were rescued. It could have been much worse.
Do oil platforms have trained fire crews? How did the fire become so large? If I find out additional information, I’ll post it.
