Search operations after the sinking of the Prospector 5 oil platform, which occurred on October 24 off the coast of Mayumba, in southwest Gabon, have led to three bodies being discovered among the five people missing.
The search continues to find the other two.
The three bodies were located on Wednesday October 28, 2026 inside the submerged wreck of the Prospector 5 offshore drilling platform, according to a press release from the Gabonese national navy.
“To date, 110 people have been rescued by the naval and air vectors of the defence and security forces, as well as those of oil companies,” indicated the Chief of Staff of the National Navy, Vice-Admiral Charles Hubert Bekale Meyong.
The discovery of the bodies was made possible thanks to underwater inspections carried out using a remotely operated robot (ROV).
However, the images collected do not yet make it possible to identify the victims.
The technical teams are preparing their recovery, in accordance with the procedures in force and with the support of qualified personnel, the press release specifies.
The Prospector 5 platform is owned by Borr Drilling, which operates it on behalf of BW Energy. After the sinking, rescue and search operations were undertaken jointly by the rescue operations command and BW Energy Gabon SA, with the mobilisation of naval and air resources from the defence and security forces as well as oil companies.
The search continues to find the two people still missing.
A judicial investigation was opened on October 25 to determine the circumstances of the accident.
The operations command indicates that it relies on the discretion of the public prosecutor at the Tchibanga court of first instance.
The shipwreck occurred off the coast of Mayumba, in the Nyanga province, southwest of Gabon.
The report communicated Wednesday shows 110 people rescued and three bodies located among the five missing initially reported.
DM/te/Sf/fss/as/APA