4 Perish, 47 Disappear in Russian Oil Platform Disaster

The Kolskaya floating platform which has completely sunken in the Sea of Okhotsk. Photo by AMNGR.ru

A Russian floating oil platform has capsized in a storm in the Sea of Okhotsk, resulting in the confirmed deaths of 4 of its crew, with the vast majority of them disappeared.

Out of the 67 crew on board, only 14 have been confirmed rescued, with the whereabouts of 47 being inconfirmed.

RIA Novosti quotes reports by authorities suggesting that the crew might have violated safety regulations by operating in dangerous weather.

According to reports by rescuers, the Kolskaya independent leg jack-up platform, owned by Russian company Arktikmor Neftegaz Razvedka, has completely sunk into the sea.

At the time of the tragic incident Sunday, the Kolskaya platform was being trauled by two ships in stormy weather some 200 km off the coast of Sakhalin Island.

However, since it was not drilling at the moment, no major oil spill is feared.

Rescue operations are being continued to locate the disappeared crew.

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