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The casualty figure from the crude oil explosion that ravaged the Rumuekpe community in Emuoha Local Government Area of Rivers State has increased to 15.

PUNCH Metro reports that the state police command and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps confirmed that 12 people who were scooping fuel from a leaked pipeline died while five vehicles, four tricycles and one motorcycle were burnt in the explosion which occurred on March 3.

But the Chairman of Emuoha Local Government Area, Dr Chidi Lloyd, in an exclusive interview with our correspondent in his office on Sunday, said three persons that suffered severe burns later died in the hospital.