63 evacuated from Norway oil rig after gas leak

[April 09, 2011]  OSLO, Norway (AP) -- Rescuers say more than 60 people have been evacuated from an oil platform off Norway's west coast after operator Statoil received reports of a gas leak.

Statoil said in a statement Saturday it mobilized its emergency response teams after being informed about a leak at the Visund platform at 08:18 a.m. (0618GMT).

Siv Namork of Norway's Joint Rescue Coordination Center told The Associated Press that 63 people had been evacuated by helicopter and about 60 more remained on the platform to control the situation.

She said Statoil had the situation under control. Company officials didn't immediately return calls seeking comment.

The Visund platform is in an oil and gas field about 90 miles (150 kilometers) northwest of the coastal city of Bergen.

[Associated Press]

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