Three out of the ten crew members on board the oil vessel belonging to Shebah Exploration & Production Company Limited (SEPCOL) that exploded and sunk on Wednesday have been found alive, the company said in a statement late yesterday.
Chief executive officer of SEPCOL, Mr. Ikemefuna said in the statementhe that the members are already receiving medical attention.
Reports said earlier in the week that a 10-man crew were on board when the explosion took place.
Okafor said the team also discovered one yet-to-identified dead body in the vicinity of the FPSO.
“We can confirm that three (3) crew members have been found alive in the community and our priority is to ensure that they receive the appropriate medical attention they need.
“Furthermore, in the early hours of Sunday 6th February 2022, one dead body was discovered in the vicinity of the FPSO. The identity of the dead body is yet to be ascertained,” the statement reads.
“As earlier confirmed, the fire burnt out completely as of Thursday afternoon, 3rd Feb. 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.
“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.
Last Saturday, the company said the fire burnt out completely and that a joint team with the relevant authorities, stakeholders, and expert organizations have commenced investigations into the fire incident.
By Chibisi Ohakah
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