Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) says the death toll in the illegal refinery explosion in Imo state has risen to 110.
The agency’s Head of Operations, Mr Ifeanyi Nnaji confirmed the toll in an interview with ChannelsTV on Monday.
Recall that the explosion occurred at an illegal refinery site located within Abaeze, a community in Ohaji/Egbema local government of the state on Friday night.
Giving an update on the incident, Nnaji revealed that authorities were planning a mass burial of the victims of the explosion.
He added that they were considering using an excavator to pack the bodies to the funeral site while the state government is expected to take responsibility for the burial.
The NEMA official explained that emergency responders recovered more bodies near the scene of the explosion on Sunday while others were confirmed dead at various hospitals where they were receiving treatment.
He, however, stated that NEMA and other relevant agencies involved in the recovery have yet to ascertain the cause of the tragedy.
According to Nnaji, those who should have recounted what transpired already lost their lives to the incident, but NEMA will soon come out with a report.
He appealed to youths in the state to get involved in productive activities and shun illegal activities capable of causing disasters such as this.
