Explosion at illegal oil refinery site ‘kills at least 15’ in Nigeria

A man stands at the site of an illegal refinery explosion in Emohua (AP)

An explosion and fire at an illegal oil refinery site in Nigeria’s Niger Delta region killed at least 15 people, including a pregnant woman, residents and a local environmental rights group has reported.

The blast happened on Monday in the southern River state’s Emohua district, where illegal refineries are common. Residents said the death toll was likely to grow because many of the bodies were completely burned and dozens of people were injured.