The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) has confirmed a pipeline blast at an oil field operated by Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) in Bayelsa.

It was gathered that three maintenance workers lost their lives in the explosion which reportedly occurred during repair work on the crude oil pipeline located at Olugboro in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa.

According to community sources, the explosion which occurred on Easter Sunday left several people injured.

Dr Peter Idabor, Director-General of the oil spill agency who confirmed the development in a telephone interview on Tuesday, said that a staff of the agency escaped death in the incident.

Idabor said that the survivor had drawn the attention of the oil workers to the breach of safety procedure and left the scene shortly before the incident occurred.

“I received a report of the incident from our staff in Yenagoa office and luckily one of our officers on the team survived. Because of the safety conditions of the place after inspection my staff left the place and he was not affected. I am going to report the matter officially to the Minister of Environment today,” Idabor said.

It will be recalled that a July 9, 2015 blast at Agip’s oil field in Azuzuama, Southern Ijaw left 14 people dead.

A regulatory official of Bayelsa Ministry of Environment and NOSDRA and 12 maintenance crew members were amongst the victims.

•Photo shows pipeline fire.