Baku, December 5 (RHC)-- At least 32 workers have reportedly died in a blaze at an offshore oil platform in Azerbaijan-controlled waters in the Caspian Sea. Reuters reports that the platform belongs to Azerbaijan's state oil and gas company SOCAR. The cause of the accident is not yet known. Officials say 42 workers have been rescued, but that rescue efforts were being complicated by a severe storm.

SOCAR said on Friday that the fire had started after a gas pipeline on the platform was damaged in heavy wind. One worker told reporters that there were 84 people trapped there. SOCAR also said on Friday that workers were missing after an accident at another offshore oil platform during the storm. A search and rescue operation was underway.