The bodies of five oil rig workers who were missing after a gas well explosion in Oklahoma on Monday have been recovered.
"All five of the missing workers have been located," Pittsburg County Sheriff Chris Morris said at a press conference. Morris said his personnel would continue to secure the site and the scene until the investigation is complete.
The victims were presumed to be working in the area where the fire initially started. First responders were not able to access the area until it cooled and was stabilized by the oil field company.
Those killed in the incident were: Josh Ray, 35, of Ft. Worth, Texas; Matt Smith, 29, of McAlester, Oklahoma; Cody Risk, 26, of Wellington, Colorado; Parker Waldridge, 60, of Crescent, Oklahoma; and Roger Cunningham, 55, of Seminole, Oklahoma,
Seventeen employees were rescued. Only one had serious injuries and was flown by medical helicopter to a hospital in Tulsa, officials said.
The well is owned by Red Mountain Operating and is being drilled by Patterson-UTI Energy.
