Kin of Filipino victims of oil rig fire to arrive in US

In this aerial photograph, a supply vessel moves near an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico damaged by an explosion and fire, Friday, Nov. 16, 2012, about 25 miles southeast of Grand Isle, La. Four people were transported to a hospital with critical burns and two were missing. AP/Gerald Herbert

MANILA, Philippines – Family members of the nine Filipino oil workers that were affected by the explosion in an oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico last week are expected to arrive in the United States starting Thursday (Friday in Manila).

In a statement, the Philippine embassy in Washington said that the country’s Consulate General in Chicago will assist the family members when they transit through O’Hare International Airport on their way to New Orleans.

The incident claimed the life of 42-year old Ellroy Corporal and injured four others.

Two of the four injured workers remained in critical condition at the Baton Rouge Hospital, one remained in serious condition, while Wilberto Ilagan’s condition continued to improve.

The statement noted that the search and rescue efforts conducted by Black Elk Energy for missing worker Jerome Malagapo were suspended Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) evening, after more than 100 hours of operations that encompassed more than 1,400 square meters of waters in the Gulf of Mexico.

“We will continue to remain focused on the victims and their families, including those injured in the incident. An official investigation is underway and we will continue to cooperate with all authorities,” said a statement from Black Elk Energy, the Houston-based independent oil and gas firm that owns the ill-fated platform

The statement added that investigators from the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement  interviewed three Filipino oil rig workers who survived the incident to determine the cause of the fire.

“The three were accompanied by Welfare Officer Saul de Vries when they gave their testimonies to investigators,” it said. The embassy declined to release the names of the Filipinos.