Three workers were killed while another suffered injuries following a tragic accident during lifeboat maintenance operations at an offshore vessel operated by Petronas on Sunday.
In a statement released on Monday, Petroliam Nasional Berhad confirmed the incident took place at around 12.50pm aboard the FSO Sepat, located off the coast of Terengganu.
According to the national energy company, three workers were pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital after the incident, while another injured staff member was evacuated for medical treatment and remains under observation.
Petronas said investigations into the cause of the accident are currently ongoing in cooperation with relevant authorities.
The company, however, did not disclose further details regarding the identities of the victims or the extent of the injuries suffered by the surviving worker.
Meanwhile, local reports by Bernama, quoting police sources, stated that the workers had boarded a lifeboat attached to the floating storage and offloading (FSO) platform as part of scheduled maintenance work.
The victims were believed to have been lowering themselves towards the sea when the rope or hook connected to the lifeboat suddenly detached.
The incident reportedly caused the workers to plunge into the sea, resulting in the fatal accident.
The tragedy has once again raised concerns over safety procedures and risks faced by offshore workers operating in high-risk industrial environments.
