28 Oil Workers Trapped, 100 Rescued In ConOil Fire Accident

Investigations have revealed that 28 oil workers were still trapped on the ConOil platform in Koluama 1 community of Southern Ijaw in Bayelsa State, after it was engulfed by fire on Saturday morning.

No less than 100 oil workers were confirmed rescued yesterday.

The fire, which was confirmed by the Joint Military Task Force in the Niger Delta , codenamed Operation Delta Safe, started around 5am on Saturday and has blew up the oil platform and razed down the residential area of oil workers.

The rescued workers have been flown to Port Harcourt on Rivers. While the others are still trapped in their residence with fire fighters and locals battling to put off the fire and save the helipad. LEADERSHIP gathered yesterday that the fire fighters, who were flown into the community on Saturday from Port Harcourt, Rivers State , were assisted by indigenes of Koluama 1 and other fishing communities in the area.

A source,  who was part of the indigenes who is assisting in the rescue and evacuation operation, told LEADERSHIP  that though the oilfield is operated by ConOil,  the oil rig is owned by Depthwize Nigeria, an oil services firm working at the oil block operated by Conoil Nigeria Limited .

The rig is located within Nigeria’s territorial waters in the Atlantic Ocean off Koluama community in Southern Ijaw area of the state. Spokesman for the OPDS, Maj. Abdullahi Ibrahim , who confirmed the incident on Saturday, said that all personnel on board the rig were successfully evacuated.

He said that the fire was already under control due to the efforts of firefighters , adding that no life was lost .

Source: Leadership