The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has revealed that no fewer than 18 people, including pregnant women, have lost their lives following an explosion in an illegal oil refining site in the Ibas community in the Emuoha Local Government Area of Rivers State.

According to Punch, the incident occurred late Sunday night when some people in the community were scooping petroleum products.

A resident in the community, who gave his name as Emmanuel, said the victims were selling the product at the refining site when the place suddenly went up in flames.

Emmanuel, however, said, 30 people died at the scene of the incident.

His words: “More than 40 people were there at the site. They were there scooping crude oil when the place caught fire. The fire came from a refining site that was close to the point where they were scooping crude oil.

“Many Isiokpo and Oduoha people and Ibaa people were there. Seven of the people died inside the pit where they were scooping the crude. About ten were burnt to charcoal by the pit.

“About 30 people died at the site while over 15 have been rushed to the hospital. I hear that three of them have died while they were being rushed to the hospital.”

Despite Emmanuel’s assertions, the NSCDC insists that the casualty figure is 18.

The spokesperson of the NSCDC, Rivers State Command, Olufemi Ayodele, said in a statement that the deceased included a fresh graduate and a lady whose wedding was scheduled for next month.

Ayodele said 18 persons were roasted while operatives rescued 25 persons at the site.