By Felix Ekwu
12 persons were injured in the Friday night fire incident at Matrix Energy Tank Farm in Ifiekporo community in Warri, Delta State.
The company’s Group Head of Safety, Mr Fred Olomuro, disclosed this on Saturday when the Delta State Government’s high-powered delegation visited the burnt gas plant.
The state Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Prince Emmanuel Agbadugba, led the delegation comprising the Commissioner, Bureau for Special Duties, Hon Johnbull Edema, and the Chairman of Warri South Local Government, Dr Michael Tidi.
Mr Olomuro said the 12 persons who sustained various degrees of injuries were being taken care of at two hospitals and that the company would take care of their medical fees.
Matrix Energy Terminal Manager, Oyibo Ogale, told the government delegation that the cause of the fire incident is yet unknown as the company has begun an investigation into the matter.
She thanked God that the fire incident was put under control by their firefighters and disclosed that no life was lost during the fire incident.
The leader of the delegation, Prince Agbadugba said their visit to the company was to get first-hand information on the cause of the fire incident and to commiserate with the company’s management.
For his part, the Commissioner, Bureau for Special Duties, Hon Johnbull Edema, urged the leaders of the host communities to cooperate with the company in their trying time as the company has agreed to take care of those injured during the fire incident assuring that Government is on top of the matter.
Chairman, Warri South Local Government, Dr Michael Tidi, thanked leaders of the host communities for assisting in extinguishing the fire.
They sued for calm among residents of Iffiekporo, Ubeji and neighbouring communities to the Matrix Energy Tank Farm.
The government delegation also visited those affected by the fire incident at Ogiame Ikenwoli hospital.