Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


    December 18, 2011

4 Dead, 49 Missing in Russia Oil Platform Accident

   VOA News
   The "Kolskaya" oil drilling rig is pictured in the Kola Bay near
   Russia's northern seaport of Murmansk. The oil drilling rig with 67
   crew on board capsized and sank off the Russian Far East island of
   Sakhalin when it ran into a storm while being towed, an
   Photo: Reuters
   The "Kolskaya" oil drilling rig is pictured in the Kola Bay near
   Russia's northern seaport of Murmansk. The oil drilling rig with 67
   crew on board capsized and sank off the Russian Far East island of
   Sakhalin when it ran into a storm while being towed, and 51 of the crew
   were unaccounted for, Russian news agencies reported on December 18,
   2011, (File).

   Russian officials say search and rescue efforts have been called off
   for the night, leaving 49 crew members still missing after an oil
   drilling rig with 67 crew on board capsized and sank in icy waters off
   the Far East island of Sakhalin.
   A regional emergency ministry spokesman told reporters that four
   crewmen were confirmed dead.
   Authorities say 14 crew members were rescued from the Kolskoye
   platform. They are reported in serious condition.
   The ministry said a tugboat was towing the oil drilling rig, when it
   ran into a storm 200 kilometers off the Kamchatka peninsula at about
   0200 UTC Sunday.

   Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.

.