Approximately 35 individuals are feared dead in the aftermath of an explosion at an illegal oil refining site located in the Ibas Community of Emuoha Local Government Area in Rivers State.
The incident unfolded late on Sunday night when a group of more than 40 people from the community were involved in the illicit activity of collecting petroleum products.
A local source within the community, identified as Emmanuel, revealed that the victims were in the process of selling the collected product at the refining site when a sudden and devastating fire erupted.
He went on to explain that individuals from neighboring areas, including Isiokpo in Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state, as well as Ibaa and Oduoha in Emohua LGA, were also affected by the tragedy.
Emmanuel shared, “More than 40 people were there at the site. They were there scooping and bagging crude oil when the place caught fire. The fire came from a refining site that is close to the point where they were bagging the crude. Many Isiokpo, Oduoha, and Ibaa people were there. Seven of the people died inside the pit where they were scooping the crude. About 10 burnt to charcoal by the pit.”
Continuing, he added, “About 30 people died at the site while over 15 have been rushed to the hospital. I hear that three of them have died while they were being rushed to the hospital.”
According to Punch Newspaper, the spokesperson for the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, promised to provide details but had not responded to our correspondent as of the time of this report on Monday evening.
| Punch Newspaper
