Khoshbakht Yusifzade: Their last words were: "Save us!''

The first vice-president of SOCAR Khoshbakht Yusifzade in an interview with Azerbaijani mass media told about the tragedy at the Guneshli oil platform in the Caspian Sea. It is known two were killed, 29 oil workers are still considered as missing. 8 injured are in hospital, 22 were discharged from hospital, altogether 32 people were rescued.

- Khoshbakht muallim, what is necessary to do in order to prevent such tragedies in future?

- An unprecedented event took place in 1957. The wind strength reached 43 meters a second. It has never happened in Azerbaijan in the last 100 years. The height of the waves was 13 meters. A significant portion of our platforms was washed with water. 22 people drowned. Then we came to the conclusion that our platforms were not designed according to standards, and therefore failed to overcome 13-meter-waves.

After that, all platforms were designed with a consideration of high waves in order to prevent such tragedies. But the latest event is unprecedented. The wind lasted 27 hours. If the hurricane had been so strong, but was during a short period of time, the waves would not have reached the maximum height.The wind would not have reached 43 meters a second as in 1957. The wind was 38-39 meters per second, but it lasted for a continuous period of 27 hours, which eventually led to high waves.

We have learned a lesson from this tragedy. We will design a platform with the expectation of long-term storms and construct boats, taking into account high winds and waves. But even if the boats had managed to heave off water they would not have been able remain there, as the water would have smashed them to pieces.

- There were 63 people on the platform. Is that common practice?

- No. The reason for such a large number of people on the platform was due to the necessity to drill another four wells. Therefore, there were also builders and drillers in addition to oil workers. There were 63 people altogether.

- How long had they been there?

- It was the last days of work.

- Usually oil companies maintain close relations with hydrometeorological centres and are warned of natural disasters. Were they warned this time?

- The platform was designed for such storms. People can be in the booth at the platform at the time of such strong hurricanes. It is not a matter of the platform. The support tube was damaged because of strong winds. That led to damage to the pipeline and a large fire. The wells are working under strong pressure of gas. The current platforms can resist 13-meter-waves. If the well had not caught fire, the situation wouldn't have become so dangerous, as the stream would have been straight up. Strong winds spread the fire over the entire area of the platform due to the huge explosion.

- What happened after the people got into the boat? Did they try to communicate? What were their last words?

- They transmitted: "Save us!"

- What will happen with the platform now?

- It will work as before. SOCAR President Rovnag Abdullayev has visited it. It will continue to work after the final consequences of the fire are eliminated.

- Will material assistance be provided to those families whose relatives were killed and missing?

- By all means. The President ordered to do it. It will be provided without fail.

- You pointed out that boats will be re-engineered? Where will these boats be produced?

- We will buy them. Now we will order them with a demand to correspond to our realities.

- Are you conceding a provocation at the platform?

- If the explosion had taken place on the platform it would be one matter, but the explosion occurred in the gas pipeline, which is in the sea. It is impossible to get there. How is it possible to arrange a provocation? I cannot imagine it. Immediately after the tragedy the commission was attended by the first deputy minister on national security. Probably, this factor was also discussed. But logically, I cannot imagine how this could have happened. In this case it would have been necessary to carry a mine there. Even a ship is not able to sail up to there in such weather conditions.

- What are the environmental consequences of this tragedy?

- There is no information at the moment. Everything will be clear after the fire is extinguished.

- How long will it take to extinguish the fire?

- I think it will be extinguished in a day or two.

- What are the current weather conditions in the Caspian Sea? Has the hurricane calmed down?

- It has.

- As if it was coming for them ...

- That's life. As if it came to take their lives. It is nature and we are helpless in this situation.