One man has died in an explosion at a natural gas pipeline offshore Louisiana, police told Reuters

(Reuters) – An offshore pipeline explosion near Venice, in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, killed one person on Saturday, Louisiana State Police said in a statement.

“The explosion resulted in the death of Joshua Nichols, 40, of Lake Charles… The pipelines were blocked and one remains on fire, burning the remaining natural gas in the pipeline,” the statement said.

A preliminary investigation revealed that Nichols was operating a mud boat near a natural gas pipeline. For reasons still under investigation, an explosion and fire occurred while Nichols was believed to be working on the pipeline, according to police.

The statement did not identify the pipeline operator.