Oil Spill Sparks Fire In Bayelsa Community

Fear, and anxiety have gripped residents of!’ Zarama community in Okordia clan, Bayelsa State as a thick smoke accompanied by huge infernor was noticed in the direction of an oil  Spill from a facility belonging to Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).

A community source in the said said there was a spillage at the site  but unfortunately it caught fire.

The cause of the fire which is also about 200 metres to the Okordia manifold is yet to be ascetained but the community ruled out intentional act just as they blamed  SPDC for not responding quickly to the incident.

As at the time The Tide visited the site (last Wednesday the fire was still ranging and the  intensity of the heat could be felt about 500 metres  inside the community.

Although no causalty was recorded, acquatic and  marine lives will not be at easy as officials of the Anglo-Dutch oil giant are yet to mop the spill,and stop the inferno.  Spokesman of SPDC, Precious Okolobo, confirmed the fire incident,  saying that the company has mobilized its fire fighting unit to the site.

He also disclosed that “some production have been shut as result of the incident while a joint investigation team will visit the site to determine the cause and impact of the fire.”