Lindsay MacKoon, Gleaner Writer
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad:
INVESTIGATIONS ARE continuing into an explosion on board an oil tanker which has claimed four lives in the twin-island republic.
Coast Guard officials have recovered two bodies but two workers are still missing.
The explosion occurred yesterday afternoon on board the MV Trade Wind Sunrise which is moored off the northwestern coast at Chaguaramas, the former United States Naval Base.
The missing workers are said to be Trinidad and Tobago nationals.
According to reports, the Panamanian vessel was docked at the inter-island facility for over a month.
But it was removed and anchored about half a mile out at sea.
There were reportedly 26 people on board at the time of the explosion. Most of the workers were able to get off the vessel, using lifeboats. But it is believed that four of them were killed in the explosion.
Eye witnesses said the explosion ripped the ground and buildings were shaken in the Chaguaramas area. It left a hole at the top side of the tanker, they said.
The blaze was put out by the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard.
Officials said they have not been able to determine the cause of the explosion.
