A US oil platform started to sink today in rough weather 50 kilometres off Israel's Mediterranean coast, with 84 people on board, the spokesman for the British bases in Cyprus said.
The British bases received a distress call about 10 a.m. (8 a.m. Irish time) and swiftly sent two Wessex helicopters to the rescue, along with one Bell helicopter from the Cyprus police, a spokesman Mr Rob Need said.
A Bell helicopter from an Italian warship had already rescued 20 people, and a US warship has also responded, Mr Need said.
The helicopters from Cyprus would have to refuel at Israel's Ben Gurion airport and would not be at the scene before 11 a.m. Irish time, Mr Need said.
It was not clear why the oil rig was off the coast of Israel, or who owned it.
AFP