Bodies were burnt beyond recognition after the explosion at a hazardous site in Imo state.
Illegal oil refineries, such as this abandoned one seen in 2017, can be found across Nigeria's oil-rich region
Dozens of people were thought to have been working at the refining plants when they were caught in the huge fire.High levels of poverty and unemployment have made illegal oil refining an attractive business for many residents of the oil-rich communities in southern Nigeria. "We learnt many bodies are in nearby bushes and forests as some illegal operators and their patrons scampered for safety," Ifeanyi Nnaji of the National Emergency Management Agency said.
It is not yet clear what caused the explosion that happened sometime overnight into Saturday, but accidents have been common in the past at similar dangerous sites where safety measures are not enforced.
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