Mass burials planned for Nigeria oil blast victims as President Buhari said country is in “shock and trauma
Nigeria’s national emergency management agency, Nema, says mass burials are expected to take place Monday afternoon for dozens of victims of a huge explosion at an illegal oil refinery in the south-eastern state of Imo.
Head of operations of the agency in the region, Ifeanyi Nnaji, told the BBC that so far 110 people have been confirmed dead – including a pregnant woman.
About 70 others were wounded in the blast – some now in critical condition in hospitals.
Most of the victims including workers and people who had come to buy fuel were burnt beyond recognition.
Many families could not identify the bodies of their loved ones caught in the disaster.
The authorities say the mass burials are planned to take place near the scene.
The owner of the refinery has been declared wanted by the authorities.
It is still unclear what caused the explosion, which occurred on Friday night through Saturday morning in the Abaeze community of the Egbema area.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s president has said the country is in “shock and trauma” following the deaths of at least 100 people from an explosion at an illegal oil refinery.
President Muhammadu Buhari described the incident in Imo state, southern Nigeria, as a “catastrophe and a national disaster”.
Many victims were burnt beyond recognition.
The police are now looking for the owner of the illegal refinery.
The damage to fishing and farming caused by the oil industry over the decades and the failure to share the oil wealth has led some to find other ways to make money.
Illegal refining is attractive as in parts of the oil-rich Niger Delta it is seen as being relatively easy to pull off, despite efforts to halt the practice.
Dozens of people were thought to have been working at the refining plants when they were caught in the huge fire.
The death toll has risen as emergency workers go through the scene. Ifeanyi Nnaji of the National Emergency Management Agency told BBC Igbo that the number killed now stood at 109.
“We learnt many bodies are in nearby bushes and forests as some illegal operators and their patrons scampered for safety,” he earlier told the AFP news agency.
Charred human remains, as well as fragments of belongings, such as flip flops, bags and clothing, were witnessed across the scene of the disaster by a journalist for the Reuters news agency.
In a statement on Sunday, Mr Buhari offered his condolences to families of the victims and said those responsible for the explosions must be caught and brought to justice.
The authorities have been struggling to curb the proliferation of illegal plants where stolen crude oil is refined. The president ordered security forces to intensify efforts to shut these refineries.
It is not yet clear what caused the explosion that happened sometime overnight into Saturday, but accidents have been common in the past at similar dangerous sites where safety measures are not enforced.
There have been concerns over a lack of precautions at such facilities as well as over the environmental pollution they cause.
But Nigeria’s official oil refineries do not work to capacity, causing frequent fuel shortages and price increases across the country.
As the world is digitally evolving, information grounded in science, truth and experience is very essential for healthy life and human sustainability. By that we are very committed to bringing you other important touched news that will best suit your health, entertainment, political, showbiz, tourism and comedy needs.
Once you have subscribed to this portal, you will be receiving other stories aside Sports News for your sustainability!
Every essential news shall be send to you and your family to be informed of and updated about the world!
