GOM Platform Explosion Death Toll Rises to 3, Missing Body Recovered

A body recently found in the Gulf of Mexico has been identified as the missing Filipino worker from the explosion on the West Delta 32 offshore oil platform in mid-November. The death toll has now risen to three.

Local authorities identified the decomposed body of Jerome Malagapo, 28, using his dental records from the Philippines, but the official cause of death has not been determined. The body was recovered on Monday about 2.5 miles off the coast of Grand Isle after it was spotted by supply ship crewmembers.

Sadly, two other workers have also died as a result of the platform explosion and fire. Three additional Filipino workers remain hospitalized, with two in critical condition. The injured and dead workers were among nine crewmen refurbishing the Black Elk platform on behalf of a contractor, Grand Isle Shipyard Inc., reports the Washington Post.

A spokesman from the Embassy of the Philippines stated that the workers are not at fault in this incident. He continued on by saying that the men had gone through rigorous training in both the United States and the Philippines.

Federal regulators are currently investigating the cause of the fatal accident.