Kuala Lumpur (VNA) - Malaysia’s state energy company PETRONAS on May 25 confirmed that an accident during lifeboat maintenance work at the FSO Sepat offshore facility off the coast of Terengganu left three people dead and one seriously injured.
According to a statement issued by PETRONAS, the incident occurred at approximately 12:50 pm on May 24 during maintenance operations on a lifeboat at the Sepat field, located offshore on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia.
The four victims were contractor personnel involved in the maintenance work on the offshore platform.
PETRONAS said three workers were pronounced dead upon arrival at Hospital Sultanah Nur Zahirah at around 5:57 pm on the same day, while the remaining injured worker was evacuated for medical treatment and remains under observation.
Kuala Terengganu district police chief Azli Mohd Noor said preliminary investigations indicated that the lifeboat may have detached after a rope or hook came loose, causing the vessel and all four personnel onboard to fall into the sea.
Rescue forces later retrieved the victims and transported them back to the platform before evacuating them by helicopter to Sultan Mahmud Airport and then to hospital for emergency treatment.
PETRONAS said it is coordinating with relevant authorities to investigate the cause of the incident.
The company also expressed its deepest condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of the deceased, stressing that its immediate priority is to support those affected by the tragedy.
Malaysian police are continuing investigations into the case, while post-mortem examinations are scheduled to be conducted on May 25./.
