Additional forces involved in extinguishing fire at Guneshli platform

The firefighting operation is continuing at platform №10 at Azerbaijan’s Guneshli oil field of SOCAR (State Oil Company of Azerbaijan). Two additional crane vessels are involved in the process, the chief engineer of PO Azneft state company SOCAR Balamirza Aliragimov told a press conference.

A high-pressure pump unit (for water supply) is being used in order to extinguish the platform and ensure the safety of the territory. Today specialists visited platform №10 at Guneshli and work is continuing now. Specialists may continue work throughout the night, or suspend it until tomorrow due to strong winds.

"At least one well is burning at the moment, but the exact number remains unknown," Aliragimov said, adding that the work of helicopters in the search for the missing oil workers is currently suspended. The chief engineer noted that the searches are partially suspended due to the nighttime conditions. They will continue in the morning in order to resume exploration works, Trend reports.

A meeting of the state commission took place today, created in connection with the fire at the platform at the Guneshli field, which belongs to SOCAR. The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Artur Rasizade with the participation of SOCAR president Rovnag Abdullayev, the head of the Ministry of Emergency Situations Kamaladdin Heydarov, the head of the State Border Service Elchin Guliyev, the Prosecutor General Zakir Garalov. A report on activities for the study of the causes and conditions of the incident, measures of search and rescue of the missing oil workers were presented at the meeting.

"It was noted during the meeting that all the necessary measures were taken immediately after the incident, but the current difficult weather conditions led to the fact that the fire spread to  MP the entire platform," Aliragimov said.

It was noted that 33 people were evacuated in the past period, who were sent for inpatient and outpatient treatment. They were provided with all the necessary medical care. The bodies of seven people were recovered from the water, brought ashore and handed over to the families. Work in searching for the remaining 23 people and extinguishing the burning wells are continuing now. The necessary number of ships and helicopters of the Emergencies Ministry, State Border Service, the Caspian Shipping Company, AZAL, experts and staff of SOCAR are involved in the process.

Urgent problems were discussed at the meeting, including the provision of material and other necessary assistance to the victims and their families, provision of treatment for injuries, as well as monitoring of the environmental situation in the area of ​​the accident.

Proposals were made at the meeting by Finance Minister Samir Sharifov, Minister of Labour and Social Protection of Population Salim Muslimov, Minister of Health Ogtay Shiraliyev, Minister of Internal Affairs Ramil Usubov, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Huseyngulu Bagirov, chairman of the JSC Caspian Shipping Rauf Aliyev.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev is continuing to receive condolences. Telegrams have already been sent by President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov, Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon, President of Kyrgyzstan Almazbek Atambayev, President of Montenegro Filip Vujanovic, the chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Dragan Covic, the co-chairs of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center, Vaira Vike-Freiberga, and Ismail Serageldin, President of the Republic of Tatarstan of the Russian Federation Rustam Minnikhanov.