An offshore petroleum platform in the Gulf of Mexico exploded today, Sept. 2, and was reported as burning by a commercial helicopter flying overhead, the Associated Press reported.
The rig sits about 80 miles off the Louisiana coast, west of the site where BP’s Deepwater Horizon rig exploded in April killing 11 workers and leaking about 206 million gallons of oil.
According to the Coast Guard, no one was killed in today’s blast, and all 13 people aboard the rig have been accounted for, with one injury, the extent of which was unknown.
Seven Coast Guard helicopters, two airplanes and three cutters were dispatched to the scene from New Orleans, Houston and Mobile, Ala., the Associated Press reported. Authorities have not yet determined whether oil is leaking from the site.
The Department of Homeland Security said the platform was in about 2,500 feet of water and owned by Mariner Energy of Houston. DHS said it was not producing oil and gas.