British Aircrafts Fight Strong Winds to Rescue 159 Workers From Burning Oil Platform

LONDON – An oil platform north of Britain caught fire on Sunday, and helicopters were fighting strong winds to rescue the 159 workers aboard it, the Royal Air Force said.

At least 44 of the workers were quickly removed from the Thistle Alpha platform in the North Sea, and seven rescue helicopters were trying to save the others, the RAF said.

No injuries were immediately reported in the blaze, which began at about 8:30 a.m. on a platform located about 120 miles northwest of the Shetland Islands, the RAF said.

It said the cause of the fire was not immediately known.