QUINTON, OK (KTUL/CNN) – Officials say five people are presumed dead after an explosion at a gas well Monday, and that efforts are underway to recover their bodies at the site.
Pittsburg County Sheriff Chris Morris spoke Tuesday, releasing the names of those presumed dead and offering condolences to their families.
"Hearts and prayers go out to the families that were involved in this rig explosion yesterday,” Morris said. “At this time, we have moved from a rescue mission to a recovery mission.”
The workers presumed dead are: Josh Ray, 35, of Fort Worth, Texas; Matt Smith, 29, of McAlester, Oklahoma; Cody Risk, 26, of Wellington, Colorado; Parker Waldridge from Crescent, Oklahoma; and Roger Cunningham from Seminole, Oklahoma.
There were 17 other people on the rig at the time of the blast. One person was hospitalized for burns.
The cause of the incident is not yet known. State authorities are investigating whether any regulations were broken leading up to the explosion.
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