KEY POINTS
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Five people remain missing after the Prospector 5 oil rig sank off Gabon.
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The rig had 115 people on board, with 110 accounted for.
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Authorities have launched an investigation and are monitoring for possible pollution.
Rescue teams are searching for five people who went missing after an oil rig sank off the coast of Gabon, according to the operating company and government authorities.
The Prospector 5 rig sank on Saturday evening, October 24, 2026, after experiencing what its operator, Borr Drilling, described as a severe structural failure.
The incident occurred as the platform was preparing to begin offshore drilling operations. Borr Drilling said 115 people were on board when the rig sank, adding that 110 had been safely accounted for.
The five missing individuals were identified by Gabonese authorities as three Gabonese nationals, one Indian national and one Croatian national.
Search and rescue operations continued on Sunday as authorities worked to locate the missing workers.
Helicopters and Underwater Equipment Deployed
Gabonese authorities said three helicopters had participated in the search by Sunday evening, while underwater equipment was being used to examine the area where the rig sank.
The country’s navy was also supporting the rescue operation, according to a statement from Oil Minister Clotaire Kondja.
Kondja said the platform had tilted before sinking during pre-loading operations ahead of a planned drilling campaign.
The search was continuing as the authorities sought to establish the whereabouts of the five missing people.
Borr Drilling said it was deeply concerned about those still unaccounted for and the impact of the incident on their families and colleagues.
The company also confirmed that it was in contact with BW Energy, the Norwegian oil and gas company whose drilling activities the rig was supporting.
Investigation Launched Into Cause of Sinking
Gabonese authorities have opened an investigation to determine the circumstances that led to the rig’s sinking and establish responsibility for the incident.
Officials have not yet released a final explanation for the structural failure.
The investigation is expected to examine the events leading up to the sinking, including the platform’s condition during the pre-loading operations.
The incident has also raised concerns about environmental risks associated with offshore oil operations.
Authorities Monitor for Possible Pollution
Kondja said no release of harmful substances had been observed at the time of his statement.
However, authorities have maintained surveillance of the affected area and deployed pollution-response resources to protect the coastline and Mayumba National Park.
The monitoring is intended to help authorities respond quickly if oil or other harmful substances are detected in the surrounding waters.
The sinking could have implications for offshore operations in Gabon, although the extent of any operational or environmental impact has not yet been established.
Gabon President Demands Safety for Offshore Workers
President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema responded to the incident by stressing the need to protect people working at sea on behalf of the country.
He said offshore workers must be able to carry out their duties safely and pledged to enforce that requirement among operators working within Gabon’s maritime territory.
The President’s statement comes as rescue teams continue searching for the five missing workers and investigators seek to determine what caused the rig to sink.
The immediate priorities remain locating those unaccounted for, establishing the circumstances of the incident and preventing possible environmental damage.
