Ko Alpha Explosion: Several people are feared injured in a huge explosion on an oil platform – World News

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A large explosion sparked a fire at the KU-Alpha oil platform off the coast of Campeche in the Gulf of Mexico on Sunday afternoon.

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Ku-Alfa: Plumes of smoke were seen rising after the explosion

A huge explosion sent thick clouds of smoke into the air at an oil rig in Mexico, raising fears of many casualties.

Disturbing images from the Campeche coast in the Gulf of Mexico show a platform blazing, with thick black smoke spreading across the sky.

It is currently not clear what caused the explosion on the KU-Alpha platform.

Campeche reported that workers are racing to close valves to prevent further damage to the oil facilities, which are located near where one of the worst spills in the history of the industry occurred.

Unofficial reports indicate that six people were injured in the explosion and the resulting fire before they were taken by helicopter to a hospital in Ciudad del Carmen.

The smoke cloud can be seen from many miles away (

picture:

@carmenhoy/twitter)

The platform, which was in use at the time of the explosion, was evacuated to floats, according to Reuters.

The Cantarell complex of five oil fields is located under the Bay of Campeche.

In 2003, it was the second most productive oil field in the world and then supplied about two-thirds of Mexico’s crude oil production, but saw a sharp decline shortly thereafter.

On June 3, 1979, the Ixtoc I exploratory oil well, located in the Gulf, experienced a blast that caused a catastrophic explosion, resulting in what has been classified as the third largest unintended oil spill in history.

In early July, Pemex, which owns the KU-Alpha platform, had to put out a fire in an underwater pipeline connecting two platforms.

Big clouds of smoke were thrown into the sky (

picture:

@carmenhoy/twitter)

The line passes more than 40% of the 1.68 million barrels of crude oil the company pumps daily, Noticias reports.

The fire was particularly exciting, as bright orange flames leaped out of the water like molten lava.

Nicknamed “the eye of fire” on social media due to the circular shape of the fire, it broke out a short distance from the Pemex platform.

More to track.

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