Helicopters, ships and an airplane searched waters in the Gulf of Mexico today for at least 11 workers missing after an explosion and fire that seriously damaged an offshore drilling platform
Most of the 126 people were accounted for after the explosion on the rig Deepwater Horizon at about 10pm last night, a Coast Guard spokesman said.
"It's burning pretty good and there's no estimate on when the fire will be put out," he said.
Seven workers were critically injured.
Two were taken to a trauma centre in Mobile, Alabama, where there is a burns unit. At least two were taken to a suburban New Orleans hospital.
The spokesman said many workers who escaped the rig were being brought to land on a workboat while authorities searched the Gulf of Mexico for any signs of lifeboats. "We're hoping everyone's in a life raft," he said.
Coast Guard environmental teams are on standby to assess any environmental damage once the fire was out.
AP