[1]On 16 January, between 4.30am and 5am, Chevron’s KS Endeavour drilling rig exploded six miles off the coast of Nigeria after the company lost control[2] of the gas well. Two workers were reported killed. Ten days on, the fire continues to burn.

Photos courtesy of Morris Alagoa at ERA/FoE Nigeria[3].[4]

The rig has now completely collapsed under the intense heat of the flames. Chevron is still “finalizing plans for a relief well to fight the fire”. But these pictures show no sign of the company’s efforts to monitor the impact of the fire or protect local fishers.

[5]

The local community, which relies on fishing as a primary means of livelihood, has drawn attention to the ecological impact of the disaster. Below is a deformed dead fish observed near the site.

[6]

The company has so far dismissed the impact on local livelihoods, claiming that “no impacts to the beach[7] have been reported.” However, the disaster appears to be having devastating consequences for marine life. As ERA reports[8] from the Koluama River:

“There were dead fish floating and some in throes of death; struggling to stay alive.”