ed316
05-12-2006, 11:31 AM
http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/img/printer_friendly/news_logo.gif
Scores die in Nigeria fuel blast
More than 150 people have been killed in an explosion at a petrol pipeline near Nigeria's largest city, Lagos.
Police and Red Cross officials at the scene of the blast, on Atlas Creek Island, said many of the bodies had been burnt beyond recognition.
Eyewitnesses in Lagos said they had seen thick black smoke rising from a nearby area.
A fire at the scene was put out, the Red Cross said, but no injured people have been recovered.
Jerry cans
An AFP news agency reporter at the site of the blast said he had seen bodies strewn over a 100m area of the coast and the charred remains of a boat on the water containing corpses.
There are some reports that the blast, which happened early on Friday morning, may have been caused by people stealing petrol from a pipeline. There have been hundreds of deaths in Nigeria in recent years in similar circumstances.
"We found that vandals have drilled holes on [into] the pipeline, from where they have been stealing fuel," said Nigerian Red Cross Secretary General Abiodun Orebiyi.
"We advise strongly Nigerians to desist from this dangerous act."
Local people were apparently gathered around the site of the leak when the fuel ignited.
Mr Orebiyi said that 500 jerry cans had been found at the scene.
The BBC's Sola Odunfa at the scene says the villagers who survived fled in case they were arrested for stealing petrol.
He says Atlas Creek is a small fishing community but some people have moved there because rent is cheaper than Lagos, where they commute by speedboat.
NIGERIA PIPELINE DISASTERS
Dec 2004: At least 20 killed in Lagos
Sept 2004: At least 60 killed in Lagos
June 2003: At least 105 killed in Abia State
Oct 1998: At least 1,000 killed in Jesse
The pipeline serves the Atlas Cove petrol depot, which supplies south-western Nigeria.
Despite being the eighth largest oil exporter in the world, Nigeria has to re-import refined oil products, such as petrol, because of decades of neglect of its own refineries.
The pipelines often pass through poor communities, who break them to steal the precious fuel.
Militants have frequently targeted the centre of Nigeria's oil industry in the Niger Delta, further to the east.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/africa/4765695.stm
Published: 2006/05/12 15:02:19 GMT
© BBC MMVI
There goes gas prices
Scores die in Nigeria fuel blast
More than 150 people have been killed in an explosion at a petrol pipeline near Nigeria's largest city, Lagos.
Police and Red Cross officials at the scene of the blast, on Atlas Creek Island, said many of the bodies had been burnt beyond recognition.
Eyewitnesses in Lagos said they had seen thick black smoke rising from a nearby area.
A fire at the scene was put out, the Red Cross said, but no injured people have been recovered.
Jerry cans
An AFP news agency reporter at the site of the blast said he had seen bodies strewn over a 100m area of the coast and the charred remains of a boat on the water containing corpses.
There are some reports that the blast, which happened early on Friday morning, may have been caused by people stealing petrol from a pipeline. There have been hundreds of deaths in Nigeria in recent years in similar circumstances.
"We found that vandals have drilled holes on [into] the pipeline, from where they have been stealing fuel," said Nigerian Red Cross Secretary General Abiodun Orebiyi.
"We advise strongly Nigerians to desist from this dangerous act."
Local people were apparently gathered around the site of the leak when the fuel ignited.
Mr Orebiyi said that 500 jerry cans had been found at the scene.
The BBC's Sola Odunfa at the scene says the villagers who survived fled in case they were arrested for stealing petrol.
He says Atlas Creek is a small fishing community but some people have moved there because rent is cheaper than Lagos, where they commute by speedboat.
NIGERIA PIPELINE DISASTERS
Dec 2004: At least 20 killed in Lagos
Sept 2004: At least 60 killed in Lagos
June 2003: At least 105 killed in Abia State
Oct 1998: At least 1,000 killed in Jesse
The pipeline serves the Atlas Cove petrol depot, which supplies south-western Nigeria.
Despite being the eighth largest oil exporter in the world, Nigeria has to re-import refined oil products, such as petrol, because of decades of neglect of its own refineries.
The pipelines often pass through poor communities, who break them to steal the precious fuel.
Militants have frequently targeted the centre of Nigeria's oil industry in the Niger Delta, further to the east.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/africa/4765695.stm
Published: 2006/05/12 15:02:19 GMT
© BBC MMVI
There goes gas prices