Liberia’s Environmental Protection Agency has launched an investigation into the appearance of a black, oil-like substance in Doewein Town, Grand Bassa County, the agency confirmed on Wednesday.
An EPA team of technicians was dispatched to the community to collect soil and liquid samples for laboratory analysis. Agency officials said test results are expected within 15 working days and will be shared with county authorities and the public once analysis is complete.
Local residents and community members told investigators they had recovered substantial quantities of the substance, reportedly filling “hundreds of containers” that are currently being stored in homes while the official inquiry proceeds.
Preliminary, informal excavations carried out by technicians and townspeople uncovered a black material beneath the soil, residents said.
Authorities cautioned against drawing conclusions until the EPA laboratory completes its tests. “Only laboratory analysis can determine whether the material is crude oil,” officials said, stressing the need for scientific confirmation.
County officials pledged to keep the public updated as results become available and announced plans to produce a video documentary to record the investigation and its findings.
The EPA’s probe will determine the nature of the substance and inform any necessary environmental or safety responses. Results due in about three weeks are expected to clarify next steps for the community and local authorities.
