details added (first version posted at 14:15)
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 6
Trend:
Three helicopters of the State Border Guard Service and four helicopters of the Ministry of Emergency Situations were involved in searching for the people missing in a fire on the platform at the Guneshli field, Khaliq Mammadov, SOCAR vice president, said at a press-conference Dec. 6.
All organizations having ships, including border guards, the ministry of emergency situations, and other fishing vessels were also involved.
SOCAR appealed to the border services of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Russia and Iran because the corpses of oil workers can be carried away to the waters of these countries by a strong current.
"Some 15 vessels, including 2 diving and 13 rescue vessels were involved," Etibar Mirzoyev, the Azerbaijani Deputy Minister of Emergency Situations, said.
He said that one of the helicopters revealed the items in the water 40 km from the platform and sent the Avior vessel upon the relevant coordinates.
The ignition started on Dec.4 at the platform No.10 of this field, where the Azerbaijani SOCAR company produces oil and gas through its own funds.
SOCAR said that the fire at the platform was caused by the windstorm, which damaged a gas line.
Some 32 people have been rescued, while 30 people are considered missing.