Oil rig explodes off La.; 11 missing, 17 hurt

This article is taken from: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100422/ap_on_bi_ge/us_louisiana_oil_rig_explosion;_ylt=AhIIQWM9PhzDrKBnS70qyspvzwcF;_ylu=X3oDMTJ2Z3N1anJnBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTAwNDIyL3VzX2xvdWlzaWFuYV9vaWxfcmlnX2V4cGxvc2lvbgRjcG9zAzEEcG9zAzMEc2VjA3luX3RvcF9zdG9yeQRzbGsDZnVsbG5ic3BzdG9y

The Coast Guard by sea and air is continuing to search for 11 workers missing since a thunderous explosion caused an oil drilling platform that continues to burn today. There has been more than a day since it caused a fireball into the night sky and so far 17 people are injured.

Luckily, nearly 100 other workers made it aboard on a supply boat and they were expected to arrive safely by shore by later today. The explosion Tuesday night near the Deepwater Horizon 50 miles off the Louisiana coast p;roved to be one of the nation's deadliest offshore drilling accidents since of the past half-century.

Sadly, "Authorities could not say when the flames might die out on the 400-by-250-foot rig, which is roughly twice the size of a football field, according the website of rig owner Transocean Ltd. A column of boiling black smoke rose hundreds of feet over the Gulf of Mexico as fireboats shot streams of water at the blaze."

So far, a total of 126 workers were about the rig when the whole explosion occurred. The Coast Guard also said that 17 were taken by air and sea to the hospital, four were reported in deadly conditions, and others suffered "burns, broken legs, and smoke inhalation."

How do you think the government should further the aid to help these injured people? Should there be money given to the families of workers who have suffered from this tragic event?