'100-feet tall' flames: Blasts rock Okla. oil rig

WATONGA, Okla.?? An oil rig exploded in Oklahoma late Monday, authorities said.

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Beth Massey of the Blaine County Sheriff's Department said a perimeter was established around the site near Watonga, about 80 miles northwest of Oklahoma City.

KOCO-TV reported that the blast occurred at a drilling rig at around 10 p.m. local time.

"The flames were probably 100-feet tall," witness Matt Miller told KOCO. "Periodically, there were explosions with huge flashes."

Witness Maria Slay told The Oklahoman that she heard four or five explosions.

About a dozen workers were evacuated following a mechanical warning, KOCO reported. No injuries were immediately reported.

Watonga Assistant Fire Chief Verlen Bills told The Oklahoman that the cause of the blaze wasn't known. Several homes within a mile of the rig were evacuated.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44589618/ns/us_news-life/

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