BLAST AT OIL PLATFORM IN GULF OF MEXICO

There are conflicting reports of an oil slick appearing in the Gulf of Mexico following a fire on a second oil platform.


Fire Blazes On Gulf Of Mexico Oil Platform

There are conflicting reports of an oil slick appearing in the Gulf of Mexico following a fire on a second oil platform.

It was initially believed that a blast ripped through one of the wells on the Mariner Energy platform, west of the site where BP's Deepwater Horizon rig exploded in April.

But it has since been claimed that there was no explosion and the fire in fact broke out near staff living quarters on the upper deck.

The oil and gas facility, 80 miles south of Vermilion Bay along the central Louisiana coast, was engulfed in flames.

All 13 workers who were on board at the time are thought to have managed to don lifesaving gear and jumed into the water.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said the men have now been recovered.

Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal told the media: "It is too early to know what sparked the fire."

He said the blaze was continuing but according to reports it would soon burn out.

The White House has said a government response was ready if needed.

Mr Gibbs said: "We obviously have response assets ready for deployment, should we receive reports of pollution in the water."

Sky News' US correspondent Greg Milam said: "You can imagine the shudder that a headline like that causes across America.

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