Explosion on Mariner Energy oil rig in Gulf of Mexico

An explosion has torn through an offshore oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico, west of the site of the blast in April that caused a huge oil spill.

The blast, which threw 13 people into the water, was reported by a helicopter company at 0930 local time (1330 GMT).

The platform, which caught fire, was not producing oil or gas, the Department of Homeland Security said.

The blast occurred around 130km (80 miles) south of Vermilion Bay along the central Louisiana coast.

Helicopters, boats and aircraft were sent to the site.

Immersion suits

All 13 workers who fell into the Gulf are accounted for and have been transported to another platform by an oil support vessel, the Coast Guard said. One person is reportedly injured.

The platform is owned by Mariner Energy and is located off the Louisiana coast

Before being rescued by the support boats, all 13 workers were given special immersion suits to protect them from the water, said Coast Guard chief petty officer John Edwards.

The federal government was prepared to respond to the situation if there had been reports of pollution, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said.

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