A massive explosion has occurred at an industrial gas plant (owned by Inter Corp Oil) in the southeastern Nigeria town of Nnewi. Local media reports the blast occurred while a truck was discharging its contents, and the ensuing fireball has left over 100 people burned to death.
Explosion at chicason gas plant Nnewi pic.twitter.com/O3a9IjlzFE
— Mcdonald ezenwa (@makavelli49) December 24, 2015
Nigeria's Vanguard reports,
Tragedy occurred, Thursday in the industrial town of Nnewi, Anambra state when an industrial Gas plant suddenly exploded and with over 100 persons burnt to death.
The explosion rocked the Inter Corp Oil limited(LPG Gas Plant), an subsidiary of Chikason Group.
According to an eye-witness, the fire incident which started at about 11am, was caused by an explosion when a truck was discharging its contents.
The source hinted that all the customers who went to the gas plant to get a refill were allegedly burnt to death while some of the victims who were in the neighborhood and passers-by also got caught in the inferno.
At the scene of the incident, the charred bodies of the victims and other severely burnt persons were taken to Nnamdi Azikwe University Teaching Hospital, NAUTH, Nnewi.
It was gathered that the inferno did not allow rescue workers into the factory where hundreds were allegedly trapped.
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The horrific scene...
Is this what happens when a 'poor' nation loses enough of its oil revenues that safety standards (and the costs associated with them) get abused?