Two die in Trinidad tanker fire

Two people are reported dead, and two more missing, after an oil tanker exploded and caught fire in Trinidad.

The Tradewind Sunrise was anchored off Reina Point on the island's western coast for maintenance.

The intense heat kept coast guard boats and helicopters away from the vessel, as they tried to reach the 26 on board.

The two dead were workers from Trinidad, who were repairing the boat. It is still not known what caused Wednesday afternoon's explosion.

"We heard a loud boom," Myria Chate, an employee of the nearby Crewsinn Hotel told the Associated Press news agency.

"We felt the building vibrating as if there were an earthquake. Shortly after, plumes of black smoke could be seen going into the air."

The Panamanian-registered tanker was not loaded with oil at the time.

Coast Guards officials said the dead and missing men were fitters with Trinidad's Inter-Island Construction Limited.