Technology
Explosion on Mexican oil platform leaves 2 dead, 8 injured, and 1 missing
At the time of the incident, 321 employees were working on the platform. They were evacuated by seven ships, the company said in a statement
July 10, 2023 7:04am
Updated: July 10, 2023 7:04am
A massive explosion at a Mexican offshore gas platform in the Gulf of Mexico on Friday killed two workers, injured eight others, and left one missing, authorities said.
The explosion took place at the Nohoch gas transfer platform operated and owned by Mexico’s state-owned company Petroleos Mexicanos, known as Pemex. The oil platform was “totally destroyed,” said Octavio Romero, director of Pemex. The fire caused by the explosion then moved to a compression complex nearby.
The dead and missing workers, as well as five of those injured, were employed by a subcontractor. Only three of those injured work for Pemex. None of those injured sustained life-threatening injuries. Rescue searchers are continuing to look for the person who is still missing.
At the time of the incident, 321 employees were working on the platform. They were evacuated by seven ships, the company said in a statement.
Pictures shared on social media show the platform completely on fire, as fire boats spray water onto the platform to put it out.
Imágenes del accidente en instalaciones marinas de @Pemex, se reportan desaparecidos. #GuacamayaLeaks#GuacamayaNews pic.twitter.com/wFxcU4TeFR
— Guacamaya Leaks (@GuacamayanLeaks) July 7, 2023
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador addressed the incident in his daily press conference, saying that the fire “is already being attended to; Pemex firefighters are there, and the Navy is there. It is on the coasts of Tabasco and Campeche."
According to Romero, the fire explosion and subsequent fire led to the loss of 700,000 barrels of crude oil so far.
"Today, 700,000 barrels of losses have been reflected (...) because we closed practically all the wells in the area," Romero said via the company's Twitter account.
The oil rig is located in the Bay of Campeche, about 85 kilometers from Ciudad del Carmen. The platform compresses gas from oil fields and pumps it through pipelines to storage tanks or ships.
Two dead, output impacted after fire engulfs Mexican oil platform - Reuters
— Oil Headline News (@OilHeadlineNews) July 8, 2023
170,000 barrels per day pic.twitter.com/OqfYpN5Chx
