Panic, as early morning fire guts Trans Forcados pipeline in Delta

There’s panic among residents of Yeye community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State over a huge fire that has engulfed the Trans Forcados Pipeline within the Chanomi creeks at the wee hours of Monday.

The crude oil pipeline is said to be operated by Heritage Energy Operational Services Ltd.

Chairman of Yeye community, Pastor Phillip Fianka, affirmed the fire incident in a text message to journalists on Monday in Warri.

He added that the incident occurred at the wee hours of Monday.

Fianka, in the frightening message, said: “Happening now, there is a severe fire outbreak in Trans Forcados Pipeline (TFP) Chanomi Axis Yeye Community.”

A Chartered Peace Reconciliator in the Niger Delta, Mr. Evans Etimigba, who spoke on the incident said the cause of the fire has yet to be ascertained.

Etimigba expressed panic among residents of the host community over the possibility of the fire spreading to other parts of the community.

He called for a quick intervention by relevant government agencies to curtail the inferno.

Meanwhile, Mr. Sylvester Okoh, who is the General Manager, Community Relations of Heritage Energy Operational Services Ltd, has confirmed the fire incident.

Okoh said, “at about 11:00 p.m on May 19, 2019, a fire incident was reported at the crude oil spill site along the Trans Forcados pipeline around Yeye community.

“It was gathered that the fire occurred due to excessive heat from a pumping machine which was being used to transfer crude oil from the spill site into a barge.

“The fire was reported to have destroyed some equipment at the scene.

“The houseboat and gunboats were safely relocated from the scene of the fire incident.”