The leak was due to a punctured pipeline. The cause of the puncture has yet to be ascertained.

In a statement Sabah Shell said, “Our emergency response team was immediately activated and shortly afterwards, our oil spill response team, to manage the situation. A team of experts has been dispatched to the site to repair the damaged pipeline and a helicopter [is] in the location to monitor the situation.”

“We have informed the relevant authorities of the incident and are working closely with them to investigate its cause. [We are] currently taking every possible measure to safeguard the people and minimise any impact on the environment,” added the firm without elaborating further.