The
management of Inter Corp Oil factory, a subsidiary of Chikason Group of Company, Nnewi, Anambra State, where the Christmas Eve gas explosion reportedly claimed lives and property, has debunked the number of casualties published in some media. Click here
Briefing reporters at the company’s headquarters on Tuesday, the Managing Director of the Organisation, Mr. Linus Ilozue, said the casualty figures were exaggerated by the media, saying that only eight persons died in the explosion.
On its
part, the Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers on Monday put the casualty figure at nine.
Addressing journalists after an assessment visit to the gas plant, the National President of the Association, Mr. Basil Ogbuanu, noted that the casualty figure was exaggerated.
Ogbuanu said the technical unit of the association had begun investigation into the immediate and remote causes of the gas explosion.
While sympathising with the families of the victims, he regretted the quantum of damage in the plant, stressing that if there was an effective firefighting mechanism, the level of destruction would have been reduced.
“The gas plant is adequately ventilated as you can see enough space. If there was efficient firefighting service on the ground, this incident may not be like this,” he said.
Ogbuanu called on new entrants into gas business to pay less attention on gains and go for standardization of the requirements for start-ups to avoid disastrous consequences like the one in hand.
On the casualty figure, the residents of the area, however, maintained that the casualty figures were far above what the company and association claimed.
Speaking at the scene of the incident on Tuesday, a resident of the area, Mr. Uchem Obi, said, “Why are they lying on this issue? Only from that mechanic workshop, eight dead bodies were recovered.
“All those who were inside the factory to purchase gas for Christmas perished in the inferno. How many of the factory workers escaped from the factory? We should stop lying against the dead.
Favour Muoghalu, whose family house was close to the factory, said, “People were killed in dozens. I was here; I saw everything and not less than 100 persons died in that incident.”
But the company in a press briefing insisted, “While accepting that there was loss of lives, the company wishes to state that the figures being peddled by both national and international media are grossly exaggerated.
“The recorded figure of the death as released by the police stands at eight. Investigations are still ongoing to determine the cause of the explosion.”
He noted that no member of staff of the company died in the Christmas Eve fire.
Most of the casualties in the fire incident, according to the company, are onlookers.
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