One person was reported dead and five others seriously injured when some oil processing equipments exploded at the Adapalm Oil Mill located in Ohaji in Ohaji/Egbema local government area of Imo state.
The incident, which happened on Thursday, it was gathered, involved the boiler/sterilizer.
Reports had it that one of the victims died in a hospital while survivors are responding to treatment at the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, where they were eventually taken to. Some of the injured were said to have their limbs chopped off as a result of the incident.
According to the report, the explosion occurred when some engineers were repairing the processing machine (boiler/sterilizer).
The incident triggered protest from the workers, who alleged that the equipment was faulty as at the time it was put into use.
The protest led to a temporary closure of the oil company.
Addressing the incident that occurred, he Managing Director Adapalm, Dr. Esom Goddy Obodo, t stated that an industrial accident took place in Adapalm on Thursday afternoon.
He narrated that the door of the sterilizer was forced open by pressure while fruit cooking was ongoing, leading to an explosion that wounded five persons.
He disclosed that the management quickly rushed the victims to St. Anthony hospital, Amafor near the factory for first aid and later moved them to FMC Owerri, adding that the patients are responding to treatment but sadly, one person gave up this morning.
He stated that the cause of the explosion is yet to be determined but investigations are ongoing.
