Oil rig explodes off Louisiana coast

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Oil rig explodes off Louisiana coast

An oil platform exploded and caught fire Thursday off the Louisiana coast, spreading a mile-long oil sheen into the Gulf of Mexico. All 13 crew members were rescued from the water in their protective "Gumby suits."

Boats are seen spraying an oil platform that exploded and caught fire Thursday off the Louisiana coast, spreading a mile-long oil sheen into the Gulf of Mexico. All 13 crew members were rescued.

It was the second such disaster in the gulf in less than five months. Officials said the sheen, about 100 feet wide, was spotted near the platform, 200 miles west of the site of BP's massive spill.

The company that owns the platform, Houston-based Mariner Energy, did not know what caused the blast, which was reported by a helicopter flying over the area. Seven Coast Guard helicopters, two airplanes and three cutters were dispatched to the scene.

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal said Mariner officials told him there were seven active production wells on the platform, and they were shut down shortly after the fire broke out.

Photos from the scene showed at least five ships floating near the platform. Three of them were shooting great plumes of water onto the machinery. Light smoke could be seen drifting across the deep blue waters of the gulf.

Crew members were found floating in the water, huddled together in insulated survival outfits called "Gumby suits" for their resemblance to the cartoon character.

An unidentified Coast Guard search and rescue team member shakes hands with persons believed to be survivors of an oil and gas platform that exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, after they walked off a Coast Guard rescue helicopter on the heliport of Terrebonne General Hospital, where injured and survivors were taken in Houma, La.

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Boats are seen spraying an oil platform that exploded and caught fire Thursday off the Louisiana coast, spreading a mile-long oil sheen into the Gulf of Mexico. All 13 crew members were rescued.

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