Oil rig fire: 1 dead, 30 missing

The company’s representative said Azerbaijan will not attract assistance in extinguishing the fire from other countries, nor does the country consider the accident as a subversive action.

The fire was likely started by an underwater gas pipeline rupture due to the stormy seas.

He said the fire was not completely extinguished yet but hoped it would be by the end of the day.

Daily production on the platform was 920 tonnes of oil and 1.08 million cubic metres of gas.

Initial statements did not mention those missing.

At the same time, the independent Oil Workers’ Rights Protection Committee told Reuters that over 30 platform workers were killed in the blaze.

A company representative said Saturday that at least 25 had been rescued but declined to say how many workers were on the platform when the fire broke out. Bad weather conditions complicate the work of the emergency services. About 10:45 p.m. Friday, a hook holding one of the lifeboats popped open and the boat fell into the sea, the statement said, adding that a nearby ship was able to rescue three workers and retrieve the body of one who died.

“We are looking for 29 people”.

SOCAR state energy firm listed the 62 names of its employees working on the rig, who were either rescued or missing. The Azeri news agency ARA says 63 people were there, which doesn’t match the numbers provided by the independent committee.