Footage capturing the moment an oil rig with a reported 115 people on board sank into the sea off the coast of Gabon, resulting in at least one fatality, has emerged.
According to Reuters, four people remain missing following the incident, which occurred on Saturday, October 24.
A video is now doing the rounds online, showing the Prospector 5 platform disappearing into the darkness of the Atlantic Ocean. Bystanders were able to capture footage of the drilling rig – allegedly 231ft long and 250ft wide – as it submerged.
The company who own and operate Prospector 5, Borr Drilling Limited, shared their latest update on Monday, October 26, revealing that search and rescue operations are still ongoing.
They confirmed that 115 people went down with the rig, claiming that 110 employees are ‘safe and accounted for’ and have been brought ashore, where ‘care and support is being provided’.
While one death has been confirmed so far, four others are missing. Borr confirmed that a rescue operation is still underway.
“Extensive marine and air search and rescue operations remain ongoing,” the company said in its statement.
“The company is working with its partners and authorities to ensure a robust investigation is carried out into the cause of the incident; however, the immediate and overriding priority remains the ongoing search and rescue efforts and doing everything possible to assist the authorities and specialists leading these operations to locate the missing individuals and support those safely accounted for.”
According to Borr, the Prospector 5 crew were conducting jacking operations ‘in preparation for a planned drilling campaign’ when an incident occurred at 8.37pm local time on Saturday night.
Initial findings suggest that ‘the rig experienced a punch-through event during preload activities, resulting in loss of stability and the subsequent sinking of the rig’.
A video taken by bystanders onboard a vessel close by has since been shared to social media, showing the moment Prospector 5 – located close to the coastal town of Mayumba, Gabon – sank into the water.
Reuters reported that the incident had claimed the life of an Indian national, though this has not yet been officially confirmed.
“We are deeply concerned for those who remain unaccounted for and everyone affected by this incident,” said Borr Drilling Chief Executive Bruno Morand.
“Our immediate priority is supporting the ongoing search and rescue efforts and the welfare of all personnel involved.”
Meanwhile, Panoro Energy released a statement confirming production at the MaBoMo facility has been shut down, which is standard procedure during ongoing drilling preparations.
It said that there are no reports of any ‘harmful substances’ polluting the ocean.
“The Company’s thoughts and prayers are with the five people who remain missing and with their families, friends and colleagues at this deeply distressing time,” Panoro Energy said.
“Panoro stands alongside the rig owner, the operator and the emergency responders in their efforts, and expresses its sincere gratitude and full solidarity with all those involved in the search and rescue operations.
“Production at the MaBoMo facility is shut down in accordance with standard procedure during ongoing drilling preparations. There has been no reported damage to the facility or related equipment, nor any accidental discharge of harmful substances to the sea from the facility.”
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