Oil rig explodes in Gulf of Mexico

Houston, Sep 3: An oil and gas platform exploded in the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday, Sep 2 in an accident that recalled the worst offshore oil spill in history.

All 13 crew members on the burning rig were evacuated to another offshore platform, the Coast Guard said. Rescue helicopters and Coast Guard cutters were immediately sent to the scene.

The US Coast Guard, said that a mile-long oil sheen is spreading from the site off Louisiana. The site is west of where BP's massive spill occurred.

The crew did not suffer any injuries, said the owner of the rig, Mariner Energy Inc. An initial flyover showed no evidence of hydrocarbon spilling, Mariner said.

OneIndia News