Onitsha fire victims may receive mass burial

Pathologists in the employ of Anambra State government hospitals Tuesday commenced forensic tests on the burnt corpses of those who who lost their lives during Sunday’s Onitsha petroleum tanker fire disaster, even as emerged that the bodies may be buried in a mass grave.
The disaster occurred when a fuel tanker had brake failure and rammed into Asaba Motor Park at Upper Iweka in Onitsha and exploded killing scores of people.
The forensic examination, which is being carried out at the General Hospital, Onitsha, is taking place at a time when the management frowned at what it termed as inflated casualty figures being dished out to the mass media, by members of the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) since the incident occurred.
When our correspondent visited the General Hospital, Onitsha the pathologists, who were carrying out the examination test were too busy to speak to newsmen, as they were seen at the morgue carrying out lab tests on the burnt corpses.
Speaking to newsmen in her office, the Chief Consultant-In-Charge of Onitsha General Hospital, Dr. Mercy Ebelechukwu said she was surprised that members of the Red Cross, particularly the Anambra State chairman, were dishing out inflated casualty figures to the public.
Dr. Ebelechukwu stated that contrary to the 69 and 70 casualty figures already published in the national dailies and electronic media, the correct figure of the dead stood at 43, while those injured stood at six.
According to her, 22 corpses were brought to the General Hospital morgue on the fateful day, while 20 other corpses remained at the Toronto Hospital Morgue, adding that out of the seven injured ones, one more died on the way to the Anambra State University Teaching Hospital, Awka and the corpse was brought back to the General Hospital morgue to bring the figure of corpses at the General Hospital Morgue to 23.