Three bodies have been recovered following the sinking of an offshore oil platform off Gabon on Saturday. Search operations are continuing for two people still missing, according to an updated statement issued by the authorities late Wednesday night.
First, the bodies were discovered inside the submerged platform on Wednesday. Gabonese Navy Chief of Staff Charles Hubert Bekale-Meyong said underwater robots helped locate the victims. However, the images collected did not allow authorities to identify them. Rescue teams were preparing to recover the bodies for identification.
Meanwhile, the Prospector 5 platform sank off Mayumba, in southern Gabon, following a serious structural failure on Saturday evening. At the time of the incident, 115 people were on board as preparations were underway for a planned drilling campaign.
Furthermore, 110 people were rescued alive, while five were initially reported missing. On Tuesday, authorities confirmed the death of an Indian national, although the body had not yet been recovered. Three Gabonese citizens and one Croatian national were also missing. It remains unclear whether the Indian worker is among the three bodies recovered.
In addition, the accident has raised concerns about safety during offshore oil operations. The circumstances surrounding the structural failure remain under investigation.
Finally, Oil Minister Clotaire Kondja announced that a technical investigation had been ordered to establish the exact causes of the accident and determine responsibility. Meanwhile, rescue teams continue their efforts to recover the remaining victims and identify those already found.
The incident highlights the risks associated with offshore drilling operations and the importance of strengthening safety measures in Gabon’s petroleum sector.
