One dead after winds break up Azeri oil rig

ONE man is dead and nine more are missing offshore Azerbaijan in the Caspian Sea after part of the oil platform they were working on broke off in 150 km/h winds.

The incident happened at around 05:00 local time on 15 December. In a statement SOCAR, Azerbaijan’s national oil company and the platform’s operator, said that a 150 m section of walkway and an adjacent living area broke away and fell into the sea. Emergency ships were sent to the scene immediately as part of the search and rescue efforts. Later in the morning, SOCAR confirmed that one body had been recovered.

The search rescue operations are ongoing.

SOCAR says that a special commission has been set up to investigate the incident.