G
Gyuki
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Wednesday December 15, 2010
Six hurt in oil platform blaze
By R.S.N.MURALI
[email protected]
KUALA TERENGGANU: Six offshore oil rig workers were injured when a fire broke out at the Bekok C platform operated by Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd about 200km off Terengganu waters. They were among 102 people who were carrying out chores at the site when the incident occurred at 12.05am yesterday.
All of them were evacuated to another platform by Petronas’ emergency response team. Petronas Carigali said 108 workers were on the platform when the fire broke out. Bekok C was undergoing a scheduled shutdown for maintenance during the mishap, it said in a statement.
Concerned: Ahmad (left) visiting Fauzi, who suffered severe burns on his face and body, at the burns ward of Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital in Kuala Terengganu yesterday.
The cause of the fire was still being investigated. Those injured were sent to Sultanah Nur Zahirah hospital here where they were recuperating. They were identified as Alias Abdullah, 32, Mohd Hamzah Abdullah, 32, Mohd Fauzi Ibrahim, 37, M. Rishaudin Ismail, 32, Mohd Ariff Farimi, 28, and Zamri Wagiman, 33.
One of the injured was later sent to the ICU when his condition deteriorated. Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Said, who visited the injured during the lunch break of the state legislative assembly, said the victims were traumatised over the incident.
“They said sparks from one of the maintenance valves could have caused the fire. They were all panic-struck but were thankful there were no fatalities,” he said. Reporters were barred from interviewing the victims at the hospital.
