At least 37 people have died after allegedly inhaling toxic fumes during an alleged illegal petroleum-loading operation in Nigeria’s oil-rich Rivers state, Nigerian media and an environmental advocacy group said Friday.
The incident took place around midnight Thursday at Okari Jetty in the Okrika Mainland area, where youths from Okrika and neighboring communities had reportedly gathered to load petroleum products from an illegally tapped pipeline point.
The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre(YEAC), Nigeria, reported at least 37 deaths after people inhaled fumes from a product known locally as “Indorama Fuel.”
“No fewer than 37 persons suspected to be oil thieves died after inhaling what is locally called ‘Indorama Fuel’. Many others are still missing,” the organisation’s executive director, Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface said.
Community sources said more than 100 people arrived in locally made boats while a vessel was loading petroleum products for export. Some of the people on site were overcome by the fumes, some collapsed and some fell into the river.
Rivers state police confirmed an incident but said an investigation was needed to determine the circumstances and actual number of deaths. Police spokesperson said some people have reportedly died in an attempt to steal crude oil.
