Five crew members remain missing after an offshore drilling rig operated by Borr Drilling sank off the coast of Gabon, Central Africa.
The Prospector 5 jack-up rig sank at about 8:37 p.m. on Saturday, October 24, 2026, near Mayumba, in the Dussafu Marin permit area.
Reports initially indicated that one crew member had died while four others remained missing. However, Borr Drilling’s official updates said five people remained unaccounted for, with no fatalities officially confirmed by the company.
About 115 people were on board the rig when it sank, while 110 were rescued and brought ashore, according to reports.
Search-and-rescue operations are ongoing, with Gabonese authorities working alongside Borr Drilling, the country’s navy, state oil company Gabon Oil and other energy companies to locate the missing workers.
The incident reportedly occurred near the MaBoMo production facility. A suspected technical failure, known as a “punch-through event,” may have caused the rig to lose stability. The event occurs when a rig’s supporting leg penetrates softer seabed material, potentially destabilising the structure.
Investigations are expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the sinking.
Meanwhile, BW Energy and Panoro Energy reportedly suspended production at the nearby facility as a precaution.
Gabonese authorities said there was no indication of oil or chemical discharges following the incident.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Gas has activated a crisis unit to coordinate the emergency response and support ongoing rescue efforts.