Five missing after oil rig sinks off Gabon

Five individuals are missing after an oil rig capsized off the coast of Gabon, according to the operating company and Gabon authorities. The Prospector 5 rig was in the process of conducting pre-loading operations ahead of a planned drilling campaign when it experienced a structural failure on Saturday evening, leading to the ship's loss of stability and subsequent sinking.

At the time of the incident, there were 115 personnel on board the rig, operated by Borr Drilling, a Bermuda-headquartered firm. Out of the total, 110 individuals have been safely located, leaving five people unaccounted for. Extensive search and rescue operations are ongoing, supported by Gabon's navy. Gabon's oil minister, Clotaire Kondja, stated that the search and rescue efforts are continuing without interruption, backed by the country's naval forces.

No release of harmful substances has been observed at this stage, and the area is under continuous surveillance to protect the coastline and Mayumba National Park. Prospector 5 was supporting the drilling operations of BW Energy, a Norwegian oil and gas company with interests in Gabon, Brazil, and Namibia. Borr Drilling expressed deep concern for the unaccounted individuals and pledged to enforce safety standards for offshore workers within Gabon's maritime territory.

Gabon's President, Brice Clotaire Oligui, emphasized in a social media post that those working at sea must be able to do so safely, and he will enforce this requirement with all operators in the country's maritime territory.