Oil Platform Explosion in Vermilion Bay, Gulf of Mexico: Instant Reactions

(Sept. 2) -- Initial reports suggest that today's Gulf Coast oil platform explosion is not the beginning of a second major gulf oil spill disaster -- let alone one on the scale of the BP Deepwater Horizon explosion, which killed 11 (as opposed to today's good news that all 13 workers were saved). Yet many around the Web are reacting under the panicked assumption that the new incident marks the beginning of yet another oil-soaked ordeal.

According to initial reporting from The Associated Press, the homeland security operations update indicates that the Mariner Energy platform located 90 miles south of Vermilion Bay was not producing oil and gas. Conversely, the following tweet from CNN's Ed Henry, and subsequent update citing CNBC, question that fact:

But wait -- US Coast Guard in DC just put out a statement saying oil platform WAS in production at time of fire, diff from what Gibbs saidless than a minute ago via webEd Henry
edhenrycnn

CNBC- Coast Guard: Oil sheen reported at site of Mariner Energy platform explosion.less than a minute ago via webUSA Breaking News
USABreakingNews

With much uncertainty still surrounding the incident, here are some initial reactions from across Twitter:

....Another oil spill. Seriously? Have we had enough now?less than a minute ago via webstrikeromega
strikeromega

Another oil spill, the southern states just can't get a break! This is soo sad! Pray for them!less than a minute ago via webAmerica Hernandez
AmeYareli

theres ANOTHER gulf oil spill....ughhhhhhhhh !!less than a minute ago via webJasmine
JJayleee

Another oil spill ...less than a minute ago via EchofonShannon Stephens
PlanetBOSS

An oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico...does this mean ANOTHER oil spill?less than a minute ago via Twitter for iPhoneDarian S. Harvin
darian_symone

Everyone chill before you think we have another #bp oil spill. The Mariner Energy oil rig didn't "explode" n there's no sign of an oil spillless than a minute ago via Twitter for BlackBerry®Adam Burch
BbBuRch