Vessel Carrying Crude Oil Gutted By Fire In Bayelsa

file image: barge on fire
file image: barge on fire

A barge laden with crude oil on Sunday caught fire in the coastal area of Agge in Ekeremor council area of Bayelsa State, according to News Agency of Nigeria, NAN.

The incident allegedly caused by a spark from a generator used in pumping the crude oil to a awaiting vessel occurred on the Ramos River.

NAN reports that the smoke was still billowing from the blazing barge in the evening of August 5.

Sources say the barge owned by Sterling Oil Global was being used in transferring crude oil to a vessel when the disaster struck.

No life was lost in the incident which sources say triggered panic among residents of the surrounding communities, given the large quantity of carbon allegedly emitted into the air.

Confirming the incident, spokesman of the Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta, code named Operation Pulo Shield, Lt.-Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, said no life was lost.

“Around 6p.m. yesterday, a barge belonging to Sterling Oil Global used in trans-loading crude oil at Agge caught fire.

“The fire was put under control and no human casualty was recorded.”

According to Nwachukwu, the vessel was safely anchored at the shoreline to forestall escalation of the fire to other oil facilities.