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UPDATE 2-”Tens” killed in Nigeria Christmas Eve gas plant explosion - presidency ‘Tens’ killed in Nigeria Christmas Eve gas plant explosion, government says
(about 5 hours later)
ONITSHA, Nigeria — “Tens of people” were killed in an explosion at a gas plant in southern Nigeria, the office of the president said Friday, and one journalist put the death toll at about 100.ONITSHA, Nigeria — “Tens of people” were killed in an explosion at a gas plant in southern Nigeria, the office of the president said Friday, and one journalist put the death toll at about 100.
The blast occurred Thursday while a truck was discharging butane at the facility in Nnewi in Anambra state and a crowd of customers refilled gas bottles ahead of Christmas, residents said.The blast occurred Thursday while a truck was discharging butane at the facility in Nnewi in Anambra state and a crowd of customers refilled gas bottles ahead of Christmas, residents said.
President Muhammadu Buhari’s office said “tens of people” who had been looking forward to their Christmas celebrations were killed. The office did not give a precise toll.President Muhammadu Buhari’s office said “tens of people” who had been looking forward to their Christmas celebrations were killed. The office did not give a precise toll.
One journalist at the scene, David Onwuchekwa, said, “I saw around 100 charred corpses.”One journalist at the scene, David Onwuchekwa, said, “I saw around 100 charred corpses.”
Most of the dead were customers or people who lived nearby, he added.Most of the dead were customers or people who lived nearby, he added.
Carl Ofuonye, another journalist, said the butane truck exploded, touching off a bigger blast.Carl Ofuonye, another journalist, said the butane truck exploded, touching off a bigger blast.
“So many people were in the building, workers at the plant, people who came to buy gas,” he said. “A woman and a child in a nearby building died.”“So many people were in the building, workers at the plant, people who came to buy gas,” he said. “A woman and a child in a nearby building died.”
Many others were being treated for burns at nearby hospitals.Many others were being treated for burns at nearby hospitals.
“I saw flames, but I didn’t know [what was going on] and started running and then I heard an explosion,” the wife of the manager of a nearby construction site told the local station Television Continental. “Even while running the fire . . . burnt me all over.”“I saw flames, but I didn’t know [what was going on] and started running and then I heard an explosion,” the wife of the manager of a nearby construction site told the local station Television Continental. “Even while running the fire . . . burnt me all over.”