New Orleans: Authorities were searching early Wednesday for missing workers who evacuated after an explosion at an oil drilling platform off the coast of Louisiana.
The explosion happened around 10pm Tuesday, 52 miles (84 kilometers) southeast of Venice, while 126 workers were aboard the platform, Coast Guard Senior Chief Petty Officer Mike O'Berry said.
No deaths were reported, but O'Berry said there were some injuries. He did not know how many.
O'Berry also said four helicopters, four Coast Guard boats and a plane were helping search for some workers who were unaccounted for Wednesday.
"We're hoping everyone's in a life raft," he said.
At the same time, fire boats were still battling the fire at the oil platform, called Deepwater Horizon.
"It's burning pretty good and there's no estimate on when the fire will be put out," O'Berry said.
