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Nigeria gas plant explosion 'kills dozens' Nigerians killed in huge gas plant explosion
(about 2 hours later)
Scores of people are reported killed in an explosion at an industrial gas plant in south-eastern Nigeria. A huge blast at a gas plant in south-eastern Nigeria has left an unknown number of people dead and injured.
A truck is said to have exploded as it was off-loading butane cooking gas in the town of Nnewi in Anambra State. A truck is reported to have exploded as it was off-loading butane cooking gas in the town of Nnewi in Anambra State. Locals are said have been there gathering gas for meals on Christmas.
Reports of fatalities vary from 35 to more than 100 people killed, including factory workers and neighbours. Reports of fatalities vary from low numbers to more than 100, including factory workers.
Local police have confirmed the incident but have yet to provide further details. A huge fire reportedly followed the blast. A fire raged for more than five hours after the blast, witnesses said.
The dead and injured were taken to the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital in Nnewi which has a predominantly Christian community. The dead and injured were taken to the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital in Nnewi, which has a predominantly Christian community.
Witness Chukwuemerie Uduchukwu, who has been to the scene of the blast, told the BBC that people had gone to the plant to fill up gas bottles ready to cook meals on Christmas day. Staff inside the plant are reported to have been trapped.
He said customers and workers in the building had been burned beyond recognition and that he had seen a dozen bodies brought out, with many more thought to be inside. "The fire burned beyond recognition all the workers who were inside that depot at that time and also all the customers inside that depot," Chukwuemerie Uduchukwu, who went to the scene, told the BBC.
Such was the ferocity of the blast that houses nearby were also damaged. 'Huge inferno'
"Five hours after the explosion and the depot was still burning," Mr Uduchukwu said, "with the Red Cross and the fire services still at the scene." The ferocity of the blast also damaged houses in the surrounding area.
A reporter for Associated Press counted the remains of 100 bodies. Police spokesman Ali Okechukwu said there had been a "huge inferno".
Another witness told the Vanguard newspaper that the blast was triggered when a truck began discharging cooking gas without waiting for the mandatory cooling time. Reports of the scale of fatalities vary. Mr Okechukwutold AFP news agency at least two people had died, while a reporter for Associated Press said they counted the remains of 100 bodies.
Passersby were also caught up in the explosion, the newspaper reported. A witness told the Vanguard newspaper that the blast was triggered when a truck began discharging cooking gas without waiting for the mandatory cooling time.
Witnesses described a huge fire with acrid black smoke hovering over the scene of the disaster. Passers-by were also caught up in the explosion, the newspaper reported.
Witnesses described a huge fire with acrid black smoke hanging over the scene of the disaster.
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