Many feared injured as explosion rocks oil facility in Rivers

A twin explosion shook two flow stations near the Cawthorne Channel off the coast of Bonny in Rivers State on Wednesday night, sparking fears of potential casualties.  

The blasts reportedly caused extensive damage to several facilities at the flow stations, located approximately 30 nautical miles from Bonny’s coastline.

The Cawthorne Channel, a critical hub for oil and gas operations, sits near the boundary between Bonny and Degema Local Government Areas of Rivers State.

Videos shared online by local residents captured the aftermath, showing both stations engulfed in flames while community members surveyed the scene from speedboats.

In the videos, conversations suggested that heat from a welding operation may have ignited the fire, which spread rapidly.

Officials from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited were reportedly alerted by locals and visited the site.

No official statement has been released by the company or any regulatory authority.

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.