Unocal evacuates some 720 staff

Unocal evacuates some 720 staff

BANGKOK (AFP): Unocal is evacuating some 720 staff from offshore gas facilities in the Gulf of Thailand because of a tropical storm approaching from the South China Sea to the east, the company said yesterday.

All non-essential personnel were being evacuated by helicopter and boats as tropical storm Linda moves westwards towards the gas field off the coast of southern Thailand at a speed of 20 knots, a Unocal statement said.

Drilling and accommodation barges with a further 161 people on board were being towed to safe locations.

Drilling was suspended around noon Saturday, but gas production is continuing. Some 80 essential personnel remain at the offshore facilities, located about 120 nautical miles from the coast.