Two explosions have been reported at two flow stations near the Cawthorne Channel off the coast of Bonny in Rivers State, raising fears of casualties.
Reports indicated that the blasts destroyed several facilities at the flow station, located around 30 nautical miles from Bonny’s coastline.
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.
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.
Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited were reportedly alerted by locals and the company dispatched a team to the site.
The company is yet to officially react to the incident.
Rivers State Police spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident and said investigations were ongoing.