04.09.2026 12:10
About 40 people died Thursday in Nigeria's oil-rich Rivers state after inhaling toxic chemical fumes from a petroleum product.
A toxic chemical fume spreading from a petroleum product caused a disaster in Nigeria's oil-rich Rivers state. According to preliminary findings, approximately 40 people lost their lives, while many others are unaccounted for and those affected by the gas are being treated in hospitals.
Many people lost their lives due to a toxic gas believed to originate from a petroleum product in Rivers state, southern Nigeria.
Rivers State Police Spokesperson Blessing Agabe stated that the incident occurred near a crude oil processing facility in the Okrika Local Government Area.
EXPOSED TO HIGH CONCENTRATION OF TOXIC GAS
Agabe noted that people in the area were exposed to a high concentration of hazardous gas and reported that approximately 40 people lost their lives.
Some individuals affected by the toxic fume were taken to hospitals for treatment. Police, medical teams, and emergency officials have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the incident.
ABOUT 200 PEOPLE WERE AT THE JETTY
According to reports in the Nigerian press, about 200 people were present at Okari Jetty on the riverbank during the incident.
It was alleged that the group was attempting to illegally load petroleum products from a ship docked at the jetty. During the loading, a sharp-smelling fume spread from the product, exposing those in the area to toxic gas.
37 BODIES FOUND AT THE SCENE
According to local sources, teams found the bodies of 37 people at the scene during their operations. While the total number of fatalities has been reported as approximately 40, it is stated that many individuals remain unaccounted for.
Efforts continue to locate the missing persons, while an investigation has been initiated to determine the exact cause of the incident and the type of chemical substance that spread.