Deadly fire breaks out at Mexican oil rig

MEXICO CITY -- A fire that broke out Wednesday at a shallow-water oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico has killed one worker and injured 16, Mexico's state-owned oil company said.

Petroleos Mexicanos said in a statement that two of the injured workers were in serious condition. The dead worker was an employee of a Pemex contractor, Cotemar.

The fire at the Abkatun Permanente platform forced the evacuation of 300 workers.

The company said eight firefighting boats were engaged in trying to extinguish the flames.

The platform is located in the Campeche Sound.