On June 20, 1988, the Piper Alpha, an offshore oil platform in the North Sea, suffered a catastrophic explosion and fire, killing 167 workers. The disaster occurred after a gas leak ignited, causing a series of explosions that devastated the platform. Despite a quick evacuation, many workers died due to the fire and toxic smoke. The incident is one of the deadliest oil industry disasters in history. It led to widespread changes in offshore safety procedures, including stricter regulations and improved emergency response protocols.