Several killed in explosion at Nigeria gas plant

Several people were killed when an industrial gas plant exploded in southeastern Nigeria.

25 December 2015, 9:15am

1 min read

Nigerian civil defense corps officials secure the area following an explosion at a gasoline pipeline at Arepo, in Ogun, Nigeria, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013. (File photo: AP)

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A huge explosion at an industrial gas plant in southeastern Nigeria killed several people and razed nearby buildings on Christmas Eve, police said on Friday.

A truck reportedly exploded as it was off-loading butane cooking gas at the Inter Corp Oil Limited gas plant in the town of Nnewi in Anambra State. Reports of fatalities vary from 25 to over 100, including factory workers and neighbours. Local police have not confirmed the numbers, but a reporter for Associated Press counted the remains of 100 bodies.

A witness told the Vanguard newspaper that the blast was triggered because the truck that was discharging the gas didn’t wait for the mandatory cooling time.

Dozens more were injured in the blast. The dead and injured were taken to the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital in Nnewi which has a predominantly Christian community.

Witnesses described a huge fire with acrid black smoke hovering over the scene of the disaster.