An explosion at a gas plant in the southeastern Nigerian state of Anambra killed at least eight people on Thursday and left several injured, according to the state governor’s spokesman.

 

The preliminary investigation showed the blast at Nnewi, an industrial city situated in the south of Anambra, happened as butane gas used for cooking was being offloaded to customers, according to James Eze, a spokesman Willie Obiano.

 

“Official reports show eight charred bodies were retrieved from the scene, while several people were injured and have been taken to the hospital," he said by phone from Awka, the state capital.

Obiano has started an investigation of the explosion to “ascertain the remote causes” and put measures in place to avoid future occurrences, Eze said.