One man was burned to death and nine missing workers are presumed dead. Brazilians are stunned that Petrobras is again at the centre of a crisis. Some 34 people were killed in a similar blast in 1984 and more than 35 people have been killed in accidents since 1998. Two incidents in the course of seven months last year led to millions of litres of oil being spilled into formerly pristine waters. The four blasts occurred within an hour of each other, killing over 100 people and injuring some 40 others.
Police are eager to wrap up the case as local faith in security forces weakens.
The incident follows another devastating blast that killed more than 40 people at a school on 6 March.