Explosion on Brazil oil ship; Union says 3 deaths
An explosion on a ship leased by state-run oil company Petrobras left three workers dead and another six missing on Wednesday, according to statements from Petrobras and also from Brazil's biggest oil industry union.
The Health Ministry for the state of Espirito Santo, where the explosion took place, said in an emailed statement that so far 10 workers have been treated for injuries -- two for "grave burns" and another eight for "trauma."
The Unified Oilworkers Federation said in a statement on its website that the blast was caused by a gas leak in the engine room of the vessel, one of the many floating oil production, storage and offloading units that Petrobras employs in developing Brazil's massive offshore oil fields.
