An explosion ripped through a Petrobras oil rig off Brazil's southeastern coast Wednesday, injuring at least ten people, a spokesperson for the state government of Espirito Santo told AFP.
Globo television reported three deaths and 15 seriously injured in the blast about 60 kilometers (36 miles) from the shore but neither Petrobras nor the state government would confirm the toll.
"The victims are being taken by helicopter to Vitoria (the state capital) and transferred to hospital," the spokesperson said.
The state health secretariat said two people had suffered serious burns and eight had concussions.
Flights were suspended at Vitoria airport to allow the helicopters to operate unhindered and ten ambulances were deployed to transfer the injured, the state government said after the explosion at the FPSO Cidade de Sao Mateus rig owned by Norwegian firm BW Offshore BWO.OL and leased by Petrobras, media reports said.
Petrobras, Brazil's biggest company, is currently mired in a huge corruption scandal involving kickbacks to politicians that led to the resignation of its board of directors last week.
Aldemir Bendine, previously chief executive of state-controlled Banco do Brasil, took over as CEO from Graca Foster, who stpped down in the face of mounting market and political pressure.
State oil regulator ANP told AFP that in December the rig had a daily average production of 2.25 million cubic meters of natural gas.