Petronas workers on an oil rig in the Andaman Seas off the coast of Myanmar have lost contact with ground control following the military on February 1 reported Mingguan Malaysia.

The Malay-language weekend edition of Utusan Malaysia reported that 200 workers aboard the Yetagun oil rig are stranded and have had no contact with the Malaysian embassy nor their employers.

According to one worker, employees hired by a contractor working for Petronas would spend 40 days at a time at sea.

However due to the pandemic, workers are kept on platform for longer durations.

“Since the coup, we have not had contact with anyone and food is running low.

“We are worried for our safety and the supplies can only last for few days more,” said the worker, adding that some staff have been sent ashore but the main worry now is helicopter services have been grounded.

Helicopters are stationed in Dawei, a city in the southeast of the country. It is believed that it have been taken over by the military.

“There are no helicopters now, we believe they are now under the control of the military.

“We have no idea what’s happening on the ground,” said the worker, adding that he has been on the platform for four months.

Myanmar’s powerful military took control of the country in a coup last Monday and declared a state of emergency for a year, followed by the detention of political leaders – including de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi – and other senior government officials, which it accuses of voting irregularities in the country’s election in November 2020.

Suu Kyi’s NLD party had won a landslide victory, trouncing the military party at the polls.

There were protests against the coup in Yangon yesterday, with more expected today. Crowds of thousands gathered to vent their anger, many showing the three-fingered salute, which has become an unofficial symbol of the protest.

The military has tried to quell dissent by banning social media and restricting internet access. – February 7, 2021.