Tag Archives: help-evacuate

(CNN) — At least 12 people were missing and seven were critically injured after an explosion on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico, the U.S. Coast Guard said Wednesday. The explosion happened about 10 p.m. CT (11 p.m. ET) Tuesday on a rig named the Deepwater Horizon. It was about 52 miles southeast of Venice, Louisiana, said Coast Guard Senior Chief Petty Officer Mike O'Berry. The rig was still ablaze at midday Wednesday, the Coast Guard said. At the time of the explosion, 126 were on board the rig, O'Berry said. The Coast Guard said it sent helicopters from New Orleans, Louisiana, and Mobile, Alabama, to help evacuate people from the rig and look for the missing. The Coast Guard also sent four cutters to the rig. Several people were hospitalized, including at least two, who were taken to a mobile trauma center. added by: tome_erau