Lightning strike sparks fire at offshore platform off Malaysia
A lightning strike triggered a fire at Vestigo Petroleum's West Lutong platform off Sarawak, now under control with no injuries.
Vestigo Petroleum, a Petronas Carigali subsidiary, has confirmed a fire at its West Lutong facility offshore Sarawak, after a lightning strike triggered an incident at the platform on Sunday afternoon.
The company said the fire broke out at around 2:00 pm local time and has since been brought under control. Vestigo said no injuries were reported and no personnel were affected, adding that the incident posed no immediate threat to surrounding communities or the environment.
The confirmation follows reports of an explosion at the offshore oil and gas facility after lightning hit a vent stack. The local fire department said the strike caused a brief gas line explosion.
Vestigo said it was working closely with the relevant authorities and had taken precautionary measures to manage any exposure risk, including closing a shut-off valve. Investigations into the cause are ongoing, and the company said it would continue to coordinate with authorities as checks are carried out on the facility and the incident is reviewed.
The West Lutong field, discovered in 1966, is the oldest offshore oil and gas field in the Baram Delta region, located approximately 12 to 20 km off the coast of Miri, Malaysia.
