Barely two months after a pipeline fire killed about six people in Oghale, Eleme Local Government area of River State, another life was in the early hours of yesterday lost when fire broke out from a punched pipe where people were scooping fuel. Oghale which is notorious for pipeline vandalisation has also not been lucky as several lives are constantly lost from pipeline fires.
The victim of the fire incident could not be identified as he was burnt beyond recognition while motor bikes numbering about 15 were also burnt by the fire. Eyewitness account in the area has it that some people successfully punched a hole on a pipeline sullying Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and the pressure was so high that they could not take the content without its spilling.
They therefore decided to allow it sip into the soil while they dug holes to make it percolate from where they scoop it into their containers. Tragedy however struck early in the morning when one of the bikes used to ferry the scooped products to unknown destinations sparked fire through its exhaust and the entire area ignited. Conflicting reports said that some other people sustained fire burns while others claimed that the real scooping had been done before inexperienced hands went there and caused the fire.
Contacted, the Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Ireju Barasua confirmed that one death was reported in the incident but added that everything had been brought under control.
Nov282006