... As death toll hits 143
PORT HARCOURT — Death toll from last Thursday's fuel tanker explosion at Okogbe on the ever-busy East West road in Ahoada West Local Government of Rivers State has risen to 143 following the discovery of six decomposing bodies, yesterday, from the bush near the scene of the incident. The death toll as at last Sunday was 137.
Rivers State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, Dr Kayode Olagunju, however, said: "We are still battling with the actual injury figures, as a lot of victims were transferred from one hospital to the other, which could result in multiple counting. Some victims initially went home for traditional treatment while others headed for some private clinics. We will work with other agencies and the Rivers State Government to collate the actual figures."
Meanwhile, Chief Medical Director of the government-owned University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Professor Aaron Ojule, has called on relatives of victims being treated locally to move them to the hospital for free treatment, adding that some of the badly burnt victims might be flown abroad for further treatment.
He said many of the survivors were being referred to the teaching hospital from other hospitals and centres, adding that a sub-committee had been put in place to collate the actual figures of the victims in order to know those who have died so far to avoid confusion.
Vanguard Nigeria