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Kielland disaster

In 1980, 123 men were killed when the Alexander L. Kielland platform capsized in the North Sea oil fields in Norway's biggest industrial disaster.

In 1980, 123 men were killed when the Alexander L. Kielland platform capsized in the North Sea oil fields.

It was Norway's biggest industrial disaster and led to a range of safety improvements for those working in the country’s oil and gas sector.

Lars Bevanger speaks to survivor Harry Vike, who spent 10 hours in a lifeboat waiting to be rescued, and his wife Grete, who was waiting for a call to find out if he was alive or dead.

Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.

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(Photo: The broken leg of the Alexander Kielland oil drilling platform, 1980. Credit: Alamy)

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9 minutes

Last on

Fri 14 Jun 2024 02:50GMT

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