25 December 2015•Update: 26 December 2015
LAGOS, Nigeria
The government and eyewitnesses have disputed the number of people killed in a large gas explosion at an industrial center in Nigeria.
Thursday’s blast in the southeastern commercial town of Nnewi happened when a butane tank exploded, according to local eyewitness accounts.
Emma Odogwu, a resident of the area who witnessed the incident, told Anadolu Agency:
"Based on the long queue of customers inside the gas-filling center ahead of the Christmas holiday, it is safe to say over 50 people died.
“I counted several burnt bodies before the place was cordoned off by security agencies," Odogwu added, saying that she counted over 25 vehicles and 10 houses damaged in the explosion.
Adaeze Victor, another resident, said he saw over 60 dead bodies.
"The people were burnt beyond recognition. I counted at least 60 bodies before we were asked to leave the scene by police and other government agencies," Victor said.
However, an official at the country's National Emergency Management Agency put the death toll at 10, saying the fire had wrought serious havoc before responders arrived on the scene.
Eze James Major, southeast regional officer for the country's relief agency said: "Yes, it is true that a gas plant exploded killing about 10 persons in Nnewi.
“The state fire service dispatched from Awka were of no help as the fire had wrought havoc before their arrival. The dead were [taken to] the Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital, Nnewi."
