Kathmandu. Local officials suspect that around 40 people died on Thursday morning due to toxic chemical fumes released from petroleum products in Rivers State, which is considered to be rich for oil in Nigeria.
According to Rivers State Police Spokesman, Blessing Agabe, told Xinhua by telephone, the incident occurred near the Crude Oil Refinery site in Okreka Local Government Area.
It is suspected that the victims swallowed a high amount of dangerous gas during inhalation.
Police and local health and emergency officials have launched an investigation into the incident. Agabe said that some of the injured were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Nigeria's national daily The Nation newspaper, citing community sources, reported that on Thursday morning, about 200 youths arrived in locally made boats to the riverside to load the illegally extracted petroleum from the ship. During loading, bitter fumes from the petroleum substance spread in the air and the victims who were nearby said that it was difficult to breathe immediately.
Citing local sources, the newspaper wrote, "At least 37 bodies identified as residents of Okrika have been recovered from the scene, while some are still missing.
