By Oluwayemi Davidson
Twelve persons are currently receiving medical attention at Ogiame Ikenwoli Hospital in Ubeji, Warri following varying degrees of injuries they sustained in Friday night’s fire outbreak which gutted a section of Matrix Tank Farm at Ifiekporo community in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.
This was disclosed to journalists in Warri on Saturday morning by a delegation of the Delta State Government led by the State Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Prince Emmanuel Amgbaduba, and the Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr. Johnbull Edema, who visited the scene of the incident.
The Government delegation which affirmed that no life was lost in the fire incident told newsmen that the team was at Matrix Tank Farm at the instance of the State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, to visit the scene to ascertain the cause and level of damage recorded in the fire disaster.
The delegation, accompanied by the chairman of Warri South Local Government Council, Dr. Michael Tidi, also visited Ogiame Ikenwoli Hospital, Ubeji, where the victims were receiving treatment.
While informing journalists that the cause of the fire outbreak was still being investigated, the Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Prince Emmanuel Amgbaduba however thanked God that no life was lost during and after the incident.
He assured that the State Government would collaborate with the management of Matrix Energy Limited, the operator of the tank farm, and statutory regulatory bodies in the industry to investigate the cause of the incident.
According to him, once the report was ready, it would be made public.
The Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr. Johnbull Edema, in his contribution, advised the youth leadership of the Ifiekporo community to remain calm while an investigation into the remote cause of the incident is revealed.
Also, the Chairman of Warri South LGA, Dr. Michael Tidi, commended the management of Matrix Energy Limited and the people of the Ifiekporo community for their proactive efforts which, he said, helped to quickly put out the fire.
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The Head of the Tank Farm, Oghale Oyibo, while conducting the delegation around the premises, disclosed that an investigation into the incident had commenced.
She explained that the fire started ed about 7:05 pm and was successfully put out at about 10:20 pm through the collaborative efforts of firefighters with support from members of the host communities
