By Rita Enemuru, Reporting
Local divers have recovered five bodies of persons who suspectedly drowned while fleeing during the fire that engulfed Matrix Tank Farm at Ifiekporo in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.
This is coming barely 48 hours after the incident which has attracted the sympathies and subsequent visitation of the state government and other dignitaries.
The deceased bodies were recovered on Sunday afternoon along the bank of Warri river, but their identities are yet to be ascertained.
The bodies are believed to be those scampering to safety when explosion engulfed the gas section of the tank farm on Friday.
Stonix News gathered that the corpses have been deposited at a morgue in Warri on Sunday.
It will be recalled that a delegation of the Delta State government had earlier on Saturday, during an on-the-spot-assessment, disclosed that there was no fatality.
Stonix News had, however, reported that 12 persons were injured and were receiving treatment at the Ogiame Ikenwoli Hospital, Ubeji.
Meanwhile, Matrix Group Head of Safety, Mr. Fred Olomuro, on Sunday, confirmed the recovery of five drowned persons who were fleeing to safety during the inferno.
“Today (Sunday) afternoon, local divers from our host community recovered five lifeless bodies that drowned probably while fleeing for safety during the fire incident on Friday.
“Where they died is some distance from the scene of the fire.
“Most offices had closed for business on that fateful day.
“Their bodies were recovered along the bank of the river away from our premises where the incident occurred.
“We’re greatly pained by the loss of these victims. We are already in touch with the families of the victims.
“We commiserate with the families on this unfortunate incident,” Olomuro noted.
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