Over 35 people have reportedly died as a result of burns in an illegal oil refinery in Rivers State.
The incident is alleged to have occurred in Ibaa Community, Emohua Local Government Area of the state.
A fire broke out at the illegal site late Sunday night, affecting everyone who was there, a total of more than 45 people.
According to Emmanuel Daniel, a community source, the victims had gone to trade on the petroleum product before the fire broke out from a processing site.
People from Isiokpo Kingdom in Ikwerre Local Government Area, as well as Ibaa and Oduoha in Emohua LGA, were affected, according to Daniel.
Daniel narrated:
“More than 40 people were there at the site. They were there scooping and bagging crude oil when the fire caught.
“The fire came from a refining site that is close to the point where they were bagging the crude.
“Many Isiokpo and Oduoha people and Ibaa people were there. Seven of the people died inside the pit where they were scooping the crude. About 10 were burnt to charcoal by the pit.
“About 30 people died at the site while over 15 have even rushed to the hospital. I hear that three of them have died while they were being rushed to the hospital.”
However, at the time of this report, police could not confirm the development since the State Command Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police, said she would get back to our reporter later.