Officials: 3 Dead in Explosion at Old Arkansas Oil Well

Officials say three workers are dead following an explosion at an abandoned oil well near El Dorado in southern Arkansas.

Union County Emergency Manager Jerry Thomas says three workers at Long Brothers Oil Company were taking apart a metal tank used to hold crude oil when something ignited vapors inside sparked the blast on May 21. The names of those killed were withheld, pending notification of next of kin.

Thomas said the fire was extinguished in the tank but not before it spread to nearby woods. Thomas said forestry crews had put the fire out by Monday night.

He said the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency are investigating the blast.

No one answered at a phone number listed for the company, which is based in Norphlet.