JUST IN: Jack-Up Barge On Fire In Escravos, Delta

A fire has broke out from a vessel belonging to a yet-to-be-identified oil and gas company, located in Escravos, Warri South-West council area of Delta state.

A video portraying the raging inferno on the vessel which is situated just outside the Escravos Bar of the Atlantic, surfaced online, since Saturday.

It is not clear if workers were on board the vessel when the fire began.

According to feelers, the barge is a jack-up vessel which belongs to an indigenous contractor.

A source claims that the vessel is owned by Michharry and Company Nigeria Limited, an offshore and onshore oil and gas facilities provider.

When reached on its contact phone number which was obtained from a ‘business list’ website, the company refused to speak on the development.

The cause of the inferno, the exact time it started and the level of damage, including loss of lives, that may have occurred is yet to be ascertained.

READ ALSO:BREAKING: FG Impounds Aircraft For Illegal Operation Of Commercial Flight Into Nigeria

Meanwhile, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), says it is investigating the incident, when contacted on Sunday.

The Warri Zonal Controller, Engr. Antai Asuquo, who spoke to The Nation via telephone, said with the COVID-19 lockdown, the agency is having restrictions in accessing the location.

He intensified that the barge is not owned by Chevron Nigeria Limited, as their findings have so far, revealed.

The Zonal Controller said “As it is, we can’t really say anything until we conclude our investigation. By Tuesday or Wednesday, we should be able to get the full details of what happened there”.

Asked if the fire is still on, Asuquo stated, “honestly, I don’t know. All I have gotten is what people are saying. We are liaising with our head office to know who owns the barge and to team up.

We are trying to even get a helicopter to fly over it to know exactly what the situation is. When we get the full details, we could talk with you thereafter”. (The Nation)