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About 35 persons are feared dead following an explosion in an illegal oil refining site in Ibas Community, Emuoha Local Government Area of Rivers State, the Punch reports.
It was gathered that the incident occurred late Sunday night when some people in the community numbering over 40 were scooping petroleum product.
A close source in the community, identified a Emmanuel, said the victims were selling the product at the refining site when the place suddenly went up in flames.
He further said people from neighbouring Isiokpo in Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state, Ibaa and Oduoha in Emohua LGA, were affected.
Emmanuel stated, “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 said, “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.”
When contacted, spokesperson for the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, said she would find out and get back to our correspondent.
As of the time of filing this report Monday evening, our correspondent had not received a response from her.
