Almeria, Spain  - Three workers were killed, three injured and one went missing Wednesday on a platform used for building a 120- kilometre underwater gas pipeline between Spain and Algeria, trade union sources said.

One of the tubes, which were to form part of the pipeline, appeared to have fallen on the workers as they were lifting it. The accident occurred in an Algerian rescue zone, but the rescue operation was launched from Almeria on Spain's southern coast.

Helicopters took the injured workers to hospital. Another helicopter was unable to locate the worker who had gone missing. (dpa)