By Elo Edremoda, Warri, and Osagie Otabor, Akure
Three crew members of the Trinity Spirit Floating Production, Storage and Offloading vessel gutted by fire at the Ukpokiti Terminal on Wednesday have been confirmed alive.
Seven persons were said to be missing as a body was discovered near the offshore facility in the wee hours of yesterday.
The management of Shebah Exploration & Production Company Limited (SEPCOL) (in receivership) confirmed the development in a statement, saying the three persons were found in an undisclosed community.
The statement signed by Ikemefuna Okafor, Chief Executive Officer of SEPCOL, confirmed that “three crew members have been found alive in the community and our priority is to ensure that they received appropriate medical attention.
“Furthermore, in the early hours of Sunday 6th February 2022, one body was discovered in the vicinity of the FPSO. The identity of the body is yet to be ascertained.
“As earlier confirmed, the fire burnt out completely as of Thursday afternoon, 3rd Feb. 2022, thus enabling closer inspection of the vessel. A Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) with the relevant authorities, stakeholders, and expert organisations took place on Saturday, 5th February 2022.
“The focus of our joint efforts is to prioritise investigations towards establishing the whereabouts, safety, and security of the seven crew members still missing, clean up and limit damage to the environment, and establish the cause of the explosion.”
But Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu said the state would not accept any Impact Assessment report without participation of its representatives as well as the affected communities.
Governor Akeredolu said the massive spill of over 50,000 barrels was an environmental disaster posing great danger to the people of the coastal communities.
He warned that toxic oil dispersants should not be deployed in Ondo State waters, saying they are hazardous to the health of the people in the affected areas.
The governor, who spoke in a statement signed by his Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Donald Ojogo, called on the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to do their duty.
“Also, residents of the areas with actionable proximity to the points in question are enjoined to refrain from unprotected aquatic activities. This becomes very pertinent in view of reports regarding the unusual death of fishes in the compromised zone,” the statement said.