Flames spread through the wetlands surrounding an oil well blowout that ignited Tuesday in India.
Screencapture Via Republic
Two Oil India firefighters drowned trying to escape when a natural gas blowout ignited in northeastern India Tuesday.
Authorities report that the fire in the Tinsukia District of India’s Assam state may take up to four weeks to bring under control.
Rescue personnel recovered the two bodies from the Maguri-Motapung Wetland near the Baghjan well site Wednesday. An Oil India spokesperson reported the firefighters had apparently drowned in the wetland trying to escape the fire. Neither firefighter had suffered burns from the fire.
The oil well had been uncontrollably leaking natural gas since a pressure blowout on May 27, media reports state.
Another Oil India firefighters suffered minor injuries Tuesday trying to bring the blaze under control.
Although the company maintains that the fire has been confined to the well site, at least 30 homes nearby have been damaged, local media reports. At least 2,500 people have been evacuated to relief camps.
Authorities are also concerned that the fire could create environmental concerns for the nearby Dibru Saikhowa National Park.
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