The remains of five persons who drowned while fleeing the LPG tank explosion and fire have been recoverd from a creek at Ofiekporo, Warri South Local Government of Delta State.
Recall that on Friday evening, June 9, LPG Unit of Matrix Tank Farm at Ofiekporo exploded and caught fire.
The bodies of the deceased persons were recovered on Sunday afternoon.
Reportedly, two of the victims are students of Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun who were in the compulsory Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES).
Sources say they were among those who were scampering for safety when the gas unit of the tank farm went up in flames.
The corpses of the deceased were said to have been deposited at a morgue in Warri on Sunday.
A delegation of the Delta State government in its preliminary report, had on Saturday disclosed that no death was recorded by the company while confirming that 12 persons were injured and now receiving treatment at the Ogiame Ikenwoli Hospital, Ubeji.
When contacted on Sunday, Matrix Group Head of Safety, Mr. Fred Olomuro confirmed that the remains of 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.
Newsnet