Gabon: fire on an oil platform leaves several dead

The fire broke out in the middle of the afternoon last Wednesday, on the Becuna platform. At least 4 people died and two others were injured. The rest of the personnel still present on the platform were evacuated. 

The fire took place on Wednesday on an oil platform of the Franco-British company Perenco Oil & Gas off the coast of Gabon, the Ministry of Oil and Gas announced on Thursday. At least four people died and a fifth is missing. During the night, Perenco announced that a person was missing. 

“We deplore the loss of four human lives, a fifth person is still missing”, detailed the ministry in a press release specifying that “seven of the twelve people on board the platform at the time of the accident were able to be evacuated”. Indeed ; The fire broke out in the middle of the afternoon on the platform called Becuna, located off the Tchatamba oil terminal, on the southeast coast of Gabon. 

“This tragedy” is “the most serious in the history of oil exploitation in our country,” deplores Marcel Abéké, Minister of Oil, in the press release, assuring that “all light will be shed on the circumstances which led to this accident, and the lessons that must be learneddrawn.” “The accident occurred during a workover operation (intervention inside the well),” the press release specifies. 

“The area was secured, the fire was brought under control and all personnel present on the platform who were not injured were evacuated,” Perenco said in the morning, also mentioning two serious burns.