Brazil: World's Biggest Offshore Oil Rig Sinks in Minutes

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Grassroots Information Coordination Center (GICC) : One Thread

Tuesday March 20 9:13 AM ET World's Biggest Offshore Oil Rig Sinks Photos

Reuters Photo

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - The world's largest offshore oil platform sank in just a few minutes Tuesday, five days after powerful blasts rocked the rig and killed 10 people, Brazil's state oil giant Petrobras (news - web sites) said.

A Petrobras spokeswoman said she did not have any information on whether there had been an oil spill, but the company has ships standing by, which it says could contain any oil slick.

Three explosions ripped through the rig off the coast of Rio de Janeiro state last week, killing 10 of the 175 workers aboard. Petrobras flew in experts and equipment from around the world to try to keep the rig afloat. http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010320/ts/brazil_sink_dc_1.html

-- Carl Jenkins (somewherepress@aol.com), March 20, 2001

Answers

Yikes! I didn't think they'd be able to save it. Got any idea how many times we'll see this over and over and over on tv?

-- Rachel Gibson (rgibson@hotmail.com), March 20, 2001.

Moderation questions? read the FAQ