Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 17
Trend:
Searches have resumed this morning to find the Azerbaijani oilmen missing in the Caspian Sea.
The oilmen went missing after a fire broke out at the Gunashli offshore field's platform #10, as a strong storm damaged an underwater high-pressure gas pipeline.
As many as 33 people were rescued in an ensuing large-scale operation. The bodies of seven killed were retrieved, while 23 oil workers are still listed as missing.
Trend learned from Azerbaijan's state oil company SOCAR on Dec. 17 that the search involves the personnel and technical staff of the country's Emergency Situations Ministry and the State Border Service.
The search involves a total of eight vessels, 13 helicopters, a plane and divers.
SOCAR also said that the area of the search for the oilmen was expanded.
"An appeal has been send to the neighboring Caspian states and a search is underway along the maritime borders of these countries," said the state oil company.