Pregnant Woman, Infants, Many Others Die In Rivers Jetty Fire

According to a report by The Nation, a pregnant woman, infants and many others has died in Rivers jetty fire.

Many unaccounted people, including a pregnant woman and infants, have been burnt to death following a fire outbreak at the Bonny-Bille-Nembe jetty in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Monday.

Eyewitnesses said some were drowned while others were still missing after the inferno that destroyed the busy jetty.

The fire, which reportedly started around 2am, razed over 60 wooden boats and speedboats with most of the victims said to have been burnt beyond recognition.

An eyewitness, who spoke in confidence, said the tragedy occurred when some persons were trying to discharge illegally-refined petroleum products popularly called ‘kpofire’.

The source said: “They have warned these people not to be carrying diesel and fuel inside the boat. Now see what has happened.

“I am sure that many people died, even a pregnant woman and a baby. Around 2am I and my friend came out after we heard a large sound like explosion. Some people were sleeping”.

Another source, who identified herself as Princess, insisted that many of the dead victims could not be accounted for.

She said: “Many people died because we have not seen some women. About 30 people may have died. But they have seen two children. For the boats that got burnt, we can’t even count them”.

A woman, who escaped with her two children but lost her five-month-old, narrated her ordeals.

She said: “We were surprised when we saw a large fire and people started running. I started calling the manager to help me rescue this child I am carrying. He didn’t answer me, so I carried one of them and jumped inside the river.

“Before I know one Hausa man throw a rope and ask me to hold the rope. That was how I came out. So they ask me if there were other children in the boat. I told them yes.

“So they entered the river and brought my other child. But I told them that my smallest child was still inside. But they didn’t see that one”.

Another crying woman said she went out to get something only to return and saw the fire, lamenting that her two year old son was missing.

She said: “I didn’t have any money on me. So a woman gave me to buy rice. As I returned I saw huge fire in the boat. I entered inside but I didn’t see my child.

“I started shifting backwards as the fire was spreading in my direction. I saw a woman in the river calling for help. So I jumped into the river and helped the woman and her baby.

“I later went to the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital. A nurse told me to check if my child was there. I saw some children, but I told her that my son was wearing a long sleeve shirt”.

Rivers Acting Police spokesman, Grace Iringe-koko confirmed the incident.

She said: “Yes, we are aware of the fire. But we are still trying to get the exact casualty figure”.