11 Missing After US Oil Rig Blows

Authorities were searching early today for up to 11 missing workers who evacuated after an explosion on an oil drilling platform off the coast of Louisiana. The explosion happened around 10pm last night, while 126 workers were aboard the platform, a Coast Guard spokesman said. No deaths were reported, though at least seven were injured—three critically.

The spokesman said four helicopters, four Coast Guard boats, and a plane were helping search for the workers who were unaccounted for today. "We're hoping everyone's in a life raft," he said. At the same time, fire boats were still battling the fire at the oil platform, called Deepwater Horizon. "It's burning pretty good and there's no estimate on when the fire will be put out," he said. (More oil rig stories.)