In Amenas update — 14.00 on January 20

The situation remains unresolved, and Statoil does not have confirmed information regarding the whereabouts of the five Statoil employees.

The search mission is being led by the Algerian authorities, with support from international actors – including Norwegian.

Statoil is using all of its channels in order to gather information on the five employees unaccounted for. This includes providing assistance to the Norwegian authorities and police, cooperating with the Algerian authorities and state oil company Sonatrach, BP and the UK authorities, our partners International SOS and a number of other relevant actors.

We also have emergency response personnel in the town of Hassi Messaoud who are involved in evacuation activities, including logistics and air transport. We still have good capacity in order to transport people out of Algeria.

Inside the large In Amenas facility an initial search has been conducted, and a more thorough search will be carried out throughout the day. A search is also being carried out in a larger surrounding desert area. Searches are also being carried out in hospitals and other health institutions in Algiers, In Amenas and other villages and towns where it is possible that people could have been transported.

Statoil does not have confirmed information regarding the number of casualties in In Amenas or whether there are any Norwegian citizens among the casualties.

The last two Statoil employees confirmed safe have now arrived in Bergen. One arrived at Flesland Airport over the course of the night, while the other arrived there this morning. Twelve of the 17 individuals who were at In Amenas when the attack started are confirmed as being safe.

The three Algerian Statoil employees who were in In Amenas at the time of the attack are now with their families and Statoil is monitoring them regularly together with medical personnel.

We are also continuing our work in supporting those involved in the incident and their family members in any and every way possible.