The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) has confirmed one death due to an explosion at the "Guneshli" oil platform in the Caspian Sea, stating that "efforts to find the missing persons from this incident are ongoing." However, the Committee for the Defense of Oil Workers' Rights in Azerbaijan claims that the incident has resulted in the deaths of 32 SOCAR employees. On Sunday, December 14, SOCAR's official website reported that following a storm in the Caspian Sea, a gas pipeline under 110 atmospheres of pressure was damaged, leading to the explosion. This incident occurred around 10 PM Tehran time on Friday, and at the time of the explosion, 63 SOCAR employees were present on the Guneshli oil platform. According to SOCAR, 33 of the employees present on the platform have been rescued so far. The report adds that "during the evacuation of the platform's workers by a rescue boat, the boat's rope broke, and individuals fell into the sea." Nonetheless, "Mervarid Ghahramanli," head of the Committee for the Defense of Oil Workers' Rights in Azerbaijan, told Reuters that "based on the information we have received, 32 people were killed in this incident, and 42 others were rescued." President Ilham Aliyev has ordered the formation of a government commission led by Arthur Rasizadeh, the Prime Minister, to investigate the incident. Simultaneously, the Attorney General's Office of Azerbaijan announced that a "criminal case" has been opened regarding the explosion at platform 10 of the Guneshli field. Approximately 60% of SOCAR's oil production comes from the platform where the explosion occurred, and it is expected that Azerbaijan's oil production will decrease for some time. Reuters reported that during the storm on Friday, three workers were also thrown into the sea from another platform in Azerbaijan, and they have not yet been found. Last year, following a similar incident at the Guneshli field in the Caspian Sea, 14 SOCAR employees lost their lives.
Disappearance of Dozens in Explosion at Azerbaijan Oil Platform in the Caspian Sea
An explosion at the Guneshli oil platform in the Caspian Sea has resulted in one confirmed death and reports of 32 fatalities among SOCAR employees. The incident occurred due to a storm damaging a gas pipeline, and investigations are underway. This situation raises concerns about safety standards in Azerbaijan's oil industry and potential impacts on oil production.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
An explosion occurred at the Guneshli oil platform in the Caspian Sea, resulting in one confirmed death and reports of 32 missing SOCAR employees. The explosion was triggered by a damaged gas pipeline during a storm, prompting investigations into safety practices.
- SOCAR confirmed one death but advocacy groups claim 32 fatalities.
- The explosion has raised concerns about safety standards in Azerbaijan's oil industry.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Azerbaijan's oil industry is a major economic driver, but it has faced criticism for safety practices following several incidents. The Guneshli platform is particularly important, contributing significantly to national oil production.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%