Hemorhage
05-12-2006, 09:08 AM
Oil pipeline explosion on Snake Island, Nigeria
Friday, May 12, 2006; Posted: 9:54 a.m. EDT (13:54 GMT)
LAGOS, Nigeria (CNN) -- -- An explosion near an oil pipeline rocked Snake Island, Nigeria, on Friday, the Nigerian Red Cross told CNN.
CNN has not confirmed the number of casualties and wire services reported conflicting numbers.
The explosion happened at Ilado village, about 45 kilometers (30 miles) east of Nigeria's main city of Lagos, and Red Cross workers there are helping survivors, AP reported.
"There was a big fire and quite a number of people died," Red Cross spokeswoman Okon Umoh said.
Nigeria is Africa's leading oil producer, the world's seventh-biggest exporter and fifth-biggest source of U.S. oil imports, AP reports. Thieves often steal heavily subsidized fuel from pipelines for personal use or to sell across borders where prices are higher.
Friday, May 12, 2006; Posted: 9:54 a.m. EDT (13:54 GMT)
LAGOS, Nigeria (CNN) -- -- An explosion near an oil pipeline rocked Snake Island, Nigeria, on Friday, the Nigerian Red Cross told CNN.
CNN has not confirmed the number of casualties and wire services reported conflicting numbers.
The explosion happened at Ilado village, about 45 kilometers (30 miles) east of Nigeria's main city of Lagos, and Red Cross workers there are helping survivors, AP reported.
"There was a big fire and quite a number of people died," Red Cross spokeswoman Okon Umoh said.
Nigeria is Africa's leading oil producer, the world's seventh-biggest exporter and fifth-biggest source of U.S. oil imports, AP reports. Thieves often steal heavily subsidized fuel from pipelines for personal use or to sell across borders where prices are higher.