No fewer than ten persons have been feared dead followiug an explosion that occurred at an illegal refinery situated in Uzuaku Community in the Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State.
Africa Daily News, New York reports that the explosion occurred barely two weeks after a fire explosion left no fewer than 100 persons at an illegal crude oil refining site in Imo State.
The casualties involve a husband and wife together with that of only son of another family.
The incident, which was said to have caused anguish in the homes of many families in the Community, happened on yesterday night.
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According to a source who spoke to newsmen, the Shell pipeline that services the Uzuaku/Owaza axis have not had crude oil running through the pipeline for some weeks which actually lead to the stoppage of illegal oil bunkering activities in the area.
The Source added that the resumption of the pumping of crude oil along the pipeline within the week may have prompted the illegal refinery operators to go back to their business.
A community leader, who confirmed the incident to newsmen, said while the persons that were burnt to death at the scene of the incident were buried immediately, a few others died later at the hospital and some were still recovering.
Africa Daily News, New York reports that the federal government have often warned many Nigerians in oil producing communities of the dangers associated with bunkering warning that the hazards is far greater than whatever the economic value could prove to be.
Meanwhile, rescue operations are still ongoing at the site of the ugly incident as a number of people are still missing according to several reports from the State.
