•••Drivers Recklessness Caused Avoidable Deaths
•••Diri Orders Investigation
A total of 20 people were burnt to death in a boat explosion in Ekeni, near Ezetu in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State on Wednesday.
The Network investigations revealed that 37 others were rescued by the Navy and other security agencies who were alerted by the traditional ruler of Ezetu, HRH Israel N. Igbousa.
Investigations revealed that most of the victims were traders from the Eastern part of the country who were in Ezetu to do business.
The Network gathered that a reckless driver of the local boat with an inboard engine caused the avoidable accident which led to the death of the victims.
It was gathered that the driver of the boat did not ensure that he had enough diesel in the engine for the trip from Ezetu to Yenagoa.
The Network gathered from authoritative sources that the driver was attempting to put diesel into the engine from a nylon bag which got torn and spilled into the running engine and caused the massive explosion.
The traditional ruler of Ezetu, HRH Israel N. Igbousa, confirmed to the Network on the telephone on Thursday that 37 people were rescued with different degrees of burns while between 18 to 19 bodies have so far been recovered.
He confirmed that the driver left the engine running while he was refilling it with diesel from a nylon bag which spilled on the engine and caused the explosion.
He expressed deep sadness over the loss and commended the authorities for the ongoing efforts.
He said, “What happened is a very sad incident. It was due to the carelessness of the boat operator.
“It was a wooden boat with an inboard engine. Immediately they left Ezetu, the driver discovered that he had little fuel left.
“He was refilling the engine without putting it off. And he put the diesel in a polytene bag and the thing got torn and spilled on the engine and it exploded. So this is what happened.”
The traditional ruler said that efforts are still ongoing at the accident scene to see if more bodies can be found.
Meanwhile Gov Diri has said investigation will be conducted into the cause of the accident and urged boat operators to always observe safety procedures on the state’s waterways.
He directed all relevant ministries and departments to join in the ongoing rescue efforts.
Over 20 people lost their lives in Bayelsa State on Wednesday in a boat accident which occurred at the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area
The ill-fated local boat was traveling from Ezetu in the Southern Ijaw LGA to Yenagoa, the state capital, when the mishap happened.
