Several burnt as pipeline fire breaks out in Ogun state

Several burnt as pipeline fire breaks out in Ogun state
A fire broke out killing some persons in Arepo village as pipeline vandals attempted to steal petroleum products.

Several burnt corpses have been seen at the scene of a pipeline fire n Arepo, Ogun State.

Officials of the Fire Service and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Thursday evening, battled to put out the fire that broke out from a bust pipeline.

The fire was allegedly caused by suspected vandals who burst the pipelines to siphon petroleum products.

An eye witness told PREMIUM TIMES that the fire started inside the Arepo forest on Wednesday as thick black smoke enveloped the air.

“The fire started on Wednesday. Firemen were there yesterday (Thursday), as at this morning (Friday), all we could see was thick black smoke in the air around the area of the fire,” the witness who referred to himself as Emmanuel said.

The South West Zonal Public Relations Officer of NEMA, Ibrahim Farinloye, said that more resources and equipment were being mobilised by a combined team of the agency as well as Federal and Ogun State Fire Service.

He confirmed that some dead bodies were sighted at the scene, although the actual figure could not be confirmed yet.

Meanwhile, Kareem Olanrewaju, the Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps in Ogun, said that the NNPC had been contacted at Mosinmi Depot.

“It is not the first time that pipeline will explode in that area. It is difficult to provide security in the place because it is a swampy area,” he said.

Mr. Olanrewaju said that the fire was difficult to put out because “the pipeline passes through the swamp thus making it difficult for rescue teams.”

 

 
Source: Premium Times http://dailypost.com.ng/2012/08/31/pipeline-fire-break-ogun-state-several-burnt-p/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=pipeline-fire-break-ogun-state-several-burnt-p