Iran Press/Africa: Early Friday explosion caused massive oil spillage in the Nembe kingdom in Bayelsa state, Nembe Chiefs Council spokesman, Nengi James-Eriworio on Saturday told the Associated Press.
Bayelsa is a state in southern Nigeria in the core Niger Delta region.
The Nembe trunk line is operated by the Port Harcourt-based Aiteo Group and carries crude oil to the Bonny export terminal.
Aiteo has yet to comment on the explosion. It was not immediately clear if the pipeline has been shut down.
"If they turn off the oil well from the station, the pressure inside the pipeline would reduce, causing the flame to burn out," one person said.
The Niger Delta is highly polluted. Nigerian oil companies usually assert that the majority of oil spills are caused by sabotage, theft and illegal refining.
Fatal accidents caused by leaking pipelines are common. In January, an overturned oil tanker exploded in Odukpani in Cross River state while dozens of people were scooping up the leaking fuel.
Police said at least 12 people were killed while some witnesses estimated up to 60 were dead.
Hundreds of people have died in similar accidents in recent years in Africa’s largest oil producing country as impoverished people risk their lives to collect fuel leaking from pipelines or trucks.104/209
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