Gas explosion in Port Harcourt kills four.

Four people have reportedly lost their lives in a gas explosion that occurred at Evekwu community in Port Harcourt.

The pipeline from which the explosion occurred is said to be co-owned by Nigerian Agip Oil Company and Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited.

The cause of the explosion is still under investigation but the community indigenes suspect high pressure in the pipeline as the actual cause. Although, both companies have stated that there were no casualties, communities leaders have pegged casualties at four.  According to the community, three bodies were recovered from the blast while another body was later found in the bush.

The communities are accusing the pipeline owners of neglect, saying they hadn’t visited the blast site to gauge the level of damage to the people and communities.

“The incident has caused a lot of damage to the people of the area as farmlands and crops have been destroyed as a result of the explosion,” local chief Ndudirim Amadi.

NLNG external affairs manager Kudo Eresia-Ete responded in a statement, saying that “no injuries or fatalities have been reported”.

“Emergency response procedures were immediately activated and the relevant authorities have been notified,” he said.

He added that communities closest to the area of the explosion were “advised not to approach the site in the interest is safety”.