Oil rig sinks off coast of Brazil

The world's largest oil rig has sunk off the coast of Brazil.

Brazil's state oil company Petrobras is trying to prevent 400,000 gallons of crude oil and diesel fuel from spilling into the sea.

The 40-storey rig, 75 miles off the Brazilian coast, was ravaged last Thursday by explosions and fire that killed at least two workers. Eight others were missing and presumed dead.

The explosion knocked out a supporting pillar and the platform tilted and sank slowly into the sea off the coast of Macae, 120 miles north-east of Rio.

Over the weekend, a team of navy divers, engineers and foreign consultants injected nitrogen into flooded compartments, partly righting it, Petrobras said.

But high winds and rough seas hindered efforts yesterday. Petrobras said the platform shifted suddenly early today and workers gave up trying to save it.