Guardians,
Last evening there was an explosion onboard the Mobile Drilling Unit (MODU) DEEPWATER HORIZON, approximately 42 miles Southeast of Venice, La.. U.S. Coast Guard District Eight command center received a report at approximately 10 p.m. and we immediately responded with aircraft and cutters.
There are 4 Offshore Supply Vessels fighting the fire on the rig.
Updated reports indicate that there were 126 people on board the MODU at the time of the explosion.
One-hundred-fifteen crewmembers have been accounted for. The Coast Guard continues the search for 11 missing crewmembers from the mobile offshore drilling unit (MODU) Deepwater Horizon.
Coast Guard is actively searching for all unaccounted for personnel and have the following units responding:
Air Station New Orleans:
* Two HH-65C Dolphin rescue helicopters and crews
Aviation Training Center, Mobile, Ala.:
* One HH-60 rescue helicopter and crew
* One HC-144 Ocean Sentry rescue plane and crew
In addition, the Coast Guard cutters Pompano, Zephyr, Razorbill and Cobia are on scene.
BP and Transocean have established a Command Post in Houston and will be working with the Coast Guard for SAR, firefighting, pollution response and salvage operations. The number for the Command Post is (281) 366-6934 or 6965.
The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone. Mariners will not be allowed into this zone without Coast Guard approval, as the zone will be in place to minimize the risk to other mariners and protect the safety of first responders. Additionally, airspace restrictions include a 5 nautical mile radius around the Deepwater Horizon MODU and 4,000 feet elevation.
Video can be found at the following link: http://cgvi.uscg.mil/media/main.php
The oil fire is still burning and the cause of the explosion is under investigation. Initial indications show that this was not a terrorist incident. The investigation is a cooperative effort between Mineral Management Service and the U.S. Coast Guard.
