Blast kills at least 18 at illegal oil refinery in Nigeria

At least 18 people, including a pregnant woman, have died in southern Nigeria when an illegal oil refinery exploded into flames, Al Jazeera reported.

The blaze took place early on Monday in Rivers State’s Emohua district when a homemade refinery ignited a nearby oil reservoir, leaving victims severely burned, and 25 injured persons, the article mentioned.

In another report, the Reuters news agency said as many as 37 people died in the blaze.

Illegal refining is common in the oil-rich Niger Delta region of Nigeria as impoverished locals tap pipelines to make fuel to sell for a profit, with powerfully connected politicians and security officials involved in the business.