Explosion At Nigeria’s illegal Oil Refinery Kills Over 100 People

Explosion at Nigeria’s illegal oil refinery kills over 100: Blast in Nigeria.

An explosion at an illegal oil refinery in Nigeria has killed more than 100 people and injured dozens more. Officials said the death toll could be above a hundred.

It is being told that the fire caused by the blast has spread to nearby properties. Aimo State Information Commissioner Declan Amelumba said the fire quickly spread to two illegal fuel stores.

He said the cause of the blast and the exact number of casualties were being ascertained.

A Nigerian local government official and an environmental group said Saturday that an explosion at an illegal oil refining depot in Nigeria’s River State killed more than 100 people overnight.

Goodluck Opia, a state commissioner for petroleum resources, said the fire started at an illegal bunkering site and affected more than 100 people.

These people are now so badly burned they are difficult to identify.

The theft and illegal refining of petroleum products, locally known as bunkering, have also preceded numerous accidents and claimed hundreds of lives.

Police confirmed the blast, saying it happened late Friday, but did not give details of casualties.

Illegal refining increased due to unemployment, and poverty.

Illegal crude refining has increased significantly due to unemployment and poverty in the oil-producing Niger Delta.

Crude oil is tapped from a web of pipelines owned by major oil companies. The product is then refined in makeshift tanks. There have been many fatal accidents due to this dangerous process.

25 people died last year.

At least 25 people, including some children, were killed in an explosion and fire at another illegal refinery in October last year.

Fields, creeks, and lagoons have already been polluted by oil spills. The Youth and Environmental Advocacy Center said several vehicles that were queuing to buy illegal fuel were burnt in the blast.

Last October, at least 25 people, including some children, were killed in an explosion and fire at another illegal refinery in the state of Rivers.

In February, local officials said they had launched a crackdown to attempt to stop the refining of stolen crude, but with little success.

Government officials estimate that Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer, and exporter, wastes an average of 200,000 barrels of oil per day – more than 10% of production – for those who exploit or sabotage pipelines.

This has forced oil companies to regularly declare force majeure on oil and gas exports.