A double explosion rocked two flow stations near the Cawthorne Channel off the coast of Bonny in Rivers State, raising fears of casualties.
9News Nigeria reports that videos posted online by community members showed two stations engulfed in flames, with locals inspecting the scene from speedboats.
In the videos, conversations suggested that heat from a welding operation may have ignited the fire, which spread rapidly.
Meanwhile Officials from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited were reportedly alerted by locals and visited the site.
As at the time of filling this report, no official statement has been released by the company or any regulatory authority, as the blasts reportedly destroyed several facilities at the flow station, located around 30 nautical miles from Bonny’s coastline.
Confirming the incident, Rivers State Police spokesperson Grace Iringe-Koko said investigations were ongoing.
“Yes, we are aware of it. The details are very sketchy for now, but we have sent our men there for investigation,” she stated.
The Cawthorne Channel is a major hub for oil and gas facilities, situated near the boundary between Bonny and Degema Local Government Areas in Rivers State.
