Rivers tanker fire: Nine bodies recovered
•They’ve been buried, says monarch
The ruler of Okogbe in Ahoada West Local Government of Rivers State, Joshua Eziba, yesterday said nine more bodies were recovered near the scene of the July 12 petrol tanker fire.
They have since been buried.
The monarch said the stench led to the discovery of the bodies.
He noted that many of the bodies being discovered were persons who ran into the bush for safety.
Eziba, who earlier put the casualty figure at 191, said besides the nine decomposing bodies, one person also died in a traditional healing home, bringing the death toll to 201.
The monarch said eight of the survivors are still receiving treatment at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH).
Besides the initial 95 victims, who were given mass burial at the scene of the disaster, three decomposing bodies were discovered near the scene, a few days later.
The monarch stressed that almost every family in Okogbe was affected by the tragic incident, while many non-indigenes also lost their lives to the fire.
The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of UPTH, Prof. Aaron Ojule, who is also the Chairman of the 11-member Rivers State July 12 Emergency Burns Committee, set up by the government to ensure survival and recovery of the victims, said they mostly suffered third degree burns.
The CMD called on relatives of victims being treated at home and in private hospitals, to move them to the teaching hospital for free treatment, with a ward already created for the victims. Ojule said a sub-committee was also put in place at the teaching hospital to collate the figures of the victims and to know those who had died so far.
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