…Death toll rises to four
Lagos — Shebah Exploration and Production Company Ltd, SEPCOL, has said three persons reported missing following the explosion at its Floating Production Storage Offloading, FPSO, facility last Wednesday, have been found in a nearby community.
A statement by the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Ikemefuna Okafor, on Sunday, said the three crew members are currently receiving the “appropriate medical attention they need” following the unfortunate explosion and subsequent fire that burnt down the FPSO Trinity Spirit at the Ukpokiti Terminal in the early hours of the said day.
The statement said a dead body was discovered in the vicinity of the FPSO today (Sunday), which brings the death toll from the explosion so far to four. The identity of the dead body discovered on Sunday is yet to be ascertained, it added.
The statement further read: “As earlier confirmed, the fire burnt out completely as of Thursday afternoon, 3rd February. 2022, thus enabling closer inspection of the vessel. A Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) with the relevant authorities, stakeholders, and expert organisations took place on Saturday, 5th February 2022.
“The focus of our joint efforts is to prioritise investigations towards establishing the whereabouts, safety, and security of the 7 crew members still missing, clean up and limit damage to the environment, and establish the cause of the explosion.
“Independent reports from the community on the day the explosion occurred, had confirmed the death of three members of the 10-men crew as a result of ‘failing safety critical equipment’.
“We appreciate the assistance provided by the Clean Nigeria Associates, the Chevron team, NOSDRA, NUPRC, SPDC, NIMASA and people in the community, particularly the fishermen, who have been of immense assistance since the incident occurred.”
The company urged members of the public to continue to keep away from the area of incident while its crisis management team monitored developments in the investigations and update all stakeholders with new information accordingly.
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