Wind obstructing rescue operation at fire-stricken oil rig in Azerbaijan
BAKU. Dec 5 (Interfax) - Strong wind in the Caspian Sea area is complicating the evacuation of oil field workers from an oil rig at the Gunashli oil field, where fire broke out on Friday evening, the Azneft crisis center told Interfax.
"The rescue operation is continuing. Emergency Situations Ministry ships and helicopters are working. Strong wind is obstructing the rescuers' work to evacuate the oil workers from rescue boats," it said.
The workers are waiting for help in boats attached to the pier with chains about four to five meters above the sea level.
The crisis center did not specify how many workers were to be evacuated.
The fire broke out on stationary oil rig No. 10 at 5:40 p.m. on Friday after a gas line malfunction. Bad weather prevented rescue vessels from approaching the scene. The evacuation was started with the use of the Vikhr-9 and Topaz fire vessels, the Avior diving support ship, and the Samir Guliyev offshore supply ship.
The management of the Azeri state oil company SOCAR, including its president, Rovnag Abdullayev, and the department heads, flew to the scene of the incident on Saturday.
