Oil rig explosion rocks Kenner, (LA) injures 7 people Sunday

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Another platform disaster in southern Louisiana. Kenner is west of New Orleans. If you've ever flown into New Orleans via MSY Airport, that's Kenner. Damn, I didn't even know there were oil rigs in Lake Ponchartrain. This is a separate incident from the crude oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico a few days ago

An oil rig exploded in Lake Pontchartrain on Sunday evening (Oct. 15) near St. Charles Parish and north Kenner, according to Kenner Police Department spokesman Sgt. Brian McGregor. Seven people were injured in the explosion, according to Kenner Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Kriss Fortunato, and authorities believe an eighth person is still missing.

Search and rescue operations were ongoing Sunday at about 10:15 p.m. Rescue boats are being sent from the Kenner Boat Launch at the end of Williams Boulevard, McGregor said, and authorities asked that residents avoid the area as much as possible.

Five of those injured were taken to the University Medical Center and two to East Jefferson General Hospital, according to Mike Guillot, director of East Jefferson Emergency Medical Services. The five who were brought to UMC "have blast type injuries and burns" and are in critical condition, he said, and the two at East Jefferson are stable.

The platform, which is located in unincorporated Jefferson Parish, is in production and owned by Clovelly Oil Co., according to Taylor Darden, who is a lawyer for the company and listed with the Louisiana Secretary of State as its registered agent. East Bank Consolidated Fire Department Chief David Tibbets said Sunday that the platform is used for the transfer of oil, and the department's goal currently is to stop the oil flow and, if needed, let it burn off safely.