No fewer than 37 persons have been reported dead following the explosion that rocked an illegal refinery at Ibaa community in Rivers State.
Reports say the incident occurred on Christmas Day.
“Thirty-five people were caught in the fire. Two people who were lucky to escape also died this morning in the hospital.
“Relatives had identified some of the victims and taken them for burial,” Rufus Welekem, head of security in the community said.
A resident of the community reportedly saw the charred remains of 15 persons in an open space surrounded by burnt palm trees and a motorbike.
Illegal oil refining involves siphoning crude oil from pipelines and redirecting it into tanks, generally in bushes and forests, where the crude oil is boiled at high temperatures to turn it into different petroleum products.
In recent times, illegal oil refining has resulted in fatal accidents.
In April 2022, many people were killed when an explosion rocked an illegal crude oil refinery in Abaezi forest, Ohaji-Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State.
Also in March this year, at least 12 persons died from an oil pipeline explosion at an illegal oil bunkering site in the Rumuekpe community, in the Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State.
