Many confirmed dead after inhaling toxic fumes during alleged oil siphoning in Rivers

At least 43 people are feared dead after toxic fumes reportedly overwhelmed an illegal petroleum siphoning operation at Okari Jetty in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The incident reportedly occurred around midnight on Thursday when more than 200 youths from Okrika and surrounding communities arrived at the jetty in wooden boats to siphon petroleum products from an illegally tapped pipeline.

According to TheCable, the youths were allegedly carrying out the operation while a vessel was loading petroleum products for export.

Community sources said the youths had begun transferring the product into their boats when the fumes suddenly became intense, causing several people to collapse.

Some of those affected reportedly fell into the river and drowned, while others who managed to escape were said to have experienced serious breathing difficulties and were taken to hospitals for medical attention.

Sources within the community put the death toll at 43, saying 37 of the victims had reportedly been identified as indigenes of Okrika, while six others remained unidentified.

Several other people were also reportedly missing following the incident.

However, the Rivers State Police Command said it had yet to establish the actual number of casualties, noting that investigations were underway to determine what happened.