Gabon navy finds three bodies in Prospector 5 wreck
Two people remain missing after the Prospector 5 vessel sank, with recovery operations underway.
Gabon's navy located three bodies inside the sunken Prospector 5 shipwreck on Wednesday, October 28, 2026. The discovery occurred four days after the vessel sank, with two individuals still unaccounted for. Underwater inspections using a remote-operated vehicle (ROV) led to the finding of the bodies within the submerged wreck.
Vice-Admiral Charles Hubert Bekale-Meyong, Chief of Staff of the National Navy, announced the discovery. Identification of the bodies is pending further examination. Recovery operations are being prepared by technical teams with specialized personnel. A total of 110 people have been rescued since the shipwreck, with naval, air, and oil company resources mobilized.
An investigation into the circumstances of the disaster was opened on October 25, 2026, by the prosecutor of the Tchibanga Court of First Instance. The priority remains the recovery and identification of the three bodies and the continued search for the two missing persons. BW Energy Gabon SA is jointly conducting operations with the rescue command.
Why it mattersThe recovery and identification of three bodies from the Prospector 5 shipwreck and the ongoing search for two missing individuals are the immediate consequences.