A fire ripped through an oil rig with 176 workers on board in Brazil.

The flames broke out on the PCH-1 oil platform in the Campos dos Goytacazes Basin, off the coast of Rio de Janeiro, on April 21 morning.

Footage shows thick black smoke billowing into the air.

During the incident, a worker fell into the sea but was rescued alive by the vessel Locar XXII, suffering burns. He was then treated at the PNA-1 unit.

The blaze was brought under control after a four-hour effort by firefighters aboard fireboats stationed nearby.

Petrobras, the platform operator, reported that the gas flow from the unit was halted as a safety measure and confirmed the safety of all the employees.

In a statement, Sindipetro-NF management said: 'Unfortunately, what we see today are the practical consequences of the dismantling of the national oil industry. The scrapping of the Campos Basin, in addition to the economic losses, puts the lives of workers at risk. It is no coincidence that accidents like this have become more frequent.'