No less than five persons have lost their lives after they jumped into a river while trying to escape an explosion from a tank farm.
It was gathered that the explosion which occurred at the premises of Matrix Tank Farm in Ifiekporo in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State at the weekend, left twelve persons hospitalised from various degrees of injuries.
It was also learnt that the five yet-to-identified bodies were recovered by locals from a river close to the company’s premises after they had reportedly drowned while fleeing the fire.
However, a preliminary investigation by a delegation of the Delta State government on Saturday, revealed that no death was recorded by the company.
The investigation also confirmed that twelve persons were injured and are receiving treatment at the Ogiame Ikenwoli Hospital, Ubeji.
Confirming the development, the Head of Safety at Matrix Group, Mr. Fred Olomuro, said the bodies of the five persons who drowned while fleeing for safety had been recovered.
“Today (Sunday) afternoon, local divers from our host community recovered five lifeless bodies that drowned probably while fleeing for safety during the fire incident on Friday. Where they died is some distance from the scene of the fire.
“Most offices had closed for business on that fateful day. Their bodies were recovered along the bank of the river away from our premises where the incident occurred.
“We’re greatly pained by the loss of these victims. We are already in touch with the family of the victims. We commiserate with the families on this unfortunate incident,” Olomuro stated.
The remains of the deceased have been reportedly deposited at a morgue in the Warri area of the state.
