The government of South Sudan has announced that 20 oil workers were killed in a plane crash, with only one survivor.
The accident occurred early Thursday morning, just minutes before the aircraft was set to land near an oil field in Unity State.
South Sudan’s Minister of Petroleum, Puot Kang Chol, told the BBC that the victims included foreign nationals. Among the deceased were two Chinese nationals, one Indian, and two Ugandans, while the rest were South Sudanese citizens.
An investigation was immediately launched, as the cause of the crash was not immediately known.
Minister Chol expressed his condolences, stating: “We stand in solidarity with the families and friends of those who lost their loved ones in this tragic plane crash. Our thoughts are with them during this difficult time.”
The victims were employees of Greater Pioneer Operating Company (GPOC), an oil consortium, while the aircraft belonged to Light Air Services Aviation Company.
GPOC is a multinational oil company with stakeholders from South Sudan, India, China, and Malaysia.