11 Dead , 36 Others Injured As Fire Guts Tank Farm In Cross River
https://www.fearlessreports.com/2017/07/11-dead-36-others-injured-as-fire-guts.html
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| Bodies of the victims who died in the incident |
A staff of the oil company who spoke with our reporter but pleaded not to be mentioned as he was not authorized to speak on the issue said that over 36 people also sustained various degrees of burns and are currently receiving treatment in different hospitals in Calabar.
The source narrated that "The incident happened at about 2am on Sunday morning.
"Linc oil and gas tank farm is the one opposite Dozzy oil private depot. The depot was receiving oil from vessel that morning but the pipe supplying oil to the tanks broke. This was as a result of the illegal activities of the safety manager of the depot who wanted to open a hole in the pipe to steal oil. In the process, the pipe broke and oil began flowing uncontrollably. The PMS (petrol) overflowed through the gutter to a far distance where it met fire somewhere".
He added that, "The 11 people who died, and the over 36 others who sustained injuries were scooping the petroleum product from the gutter when fire met them".
According to different sources, bodies of those killed have been moved to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital morgue while those injured are being treated in different hospitals in Calabar.
The State Commissioner for Petroleum Resources, Itaya Nyong who confirmed the incident attributed the cause of the incident to illegal activities going on within the Calabar Export Zone.
Nyong urged the Federal Government to investigate the issue with the view of shutting down the affected tank farm to avoid a more severe disaster.
He lamented over illegal activities going on in the area as he noted that lack of security and safety measures where the primary factor to the disaster.
According to him, “The state Government will ensure that, justice is meted out to the culprits involved and adequate sanctions followed".
This is sad and traumatic but funny in a way. Commissioner Nyong need to know that Cross River State government should as a matter-of-urgency prioritise the investigation of the ugly incident and send report to the Federal Government making recommendations on what should be done to stop future occurrence. If his office and Cross River government waits for the Federal Government to come and do the needful when they could have done it, I consider it negligence and dereliction of duty. I think too that in Law, that act is culpable. The art of stealing in public places is pervading the state from Obanliku to Bakassi. Those in government are first culprits and then politicians generally. They raise miscreants and send them out as street urchins without food to eat. What do you expect them to do? Steal, kill and destroy. If it is true that the Safety Manager is the cause, he should be arrested and tried without delay. Justice delayed is Justice denied. If the government fails, posterity will hold them liable as well.
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