1998 Jesse pipeline explosion
Encyclopedia
On October 18, 1998 a pipeline explosion occurred in the community of Jesse (geographical coordinates 5.870°N 5.750°W), 290 kilometres (180.2 mi) southeast of Lagos
, Nigeria
. The cause of the blast has been debated. The Nigerian government stated the explosion took place after scavengers intentionally ruptured the pipeline with their tools and ignited the blaze; however, others have stated the pipeline ruptured due to a lack of maintenance and neglect with a cigarette igniting the fire. With a total of 1,082 deaths attributed to the blast, the 1998 Jesse explosion has the distinction of being the most deadly pipeline explosion to have occurred in Nigeria.
Located in the Niger Delta
, the ruptured pipeline was owned by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation
(NNPC), and served as a link between an oil refinery in the southeastern town of Warri
, 340 kilometres (211.3 mi) southeast of Lagos, and Kaduna, 610 kilometres (379 mi) miles north of Warri. After igniting on October 18, the fire burned until a firefighting company from the United States
was able to extinguish the blaze on October 23 with a nitrogen-rich foam. During a visit on October 19, Nigerian President
Abdulsalami Abubakar
promised to provide the necessary support to give aid in addition to develop solutions to prevent these types of tragedies from occurring again.
Weeks after the explosion, the death toll continued to rise as many of those with injuries died while in hospitals, while others fled care as a result of fearing arrest by the Nigerian government on suspicion of igniting the blaze. Due to the intensity of the blaze, many victims were too badly burned to be identified, and as a result over 300 bodies were buried in mass graves.
Lagos
Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa...
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. The cause of the blast has been debated. The Nigerian government stated the explosion took place after scavengers intentionally ruptured the pipeline with their tools and ignited the blaze; however, others have stated the pipeline ruptured due to a lack of maintenance and neglect with a cigarette igniting the fire. With a total of 1,082 deaths attributed to the blast, the 1998 Jesse explosion has the distinction of being the most deadly pipeline explosion to have occurred in Nigeria.
Located in the Niger Delta
Niger Delta
The Niger Delta, the delta of the Niger River in Nigeria, is a densely populated region sometimes called the Oil Rivers because it was once a major producer of palm oil...
, the ruptured pipeline was owned by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation is the state oil corporation through which the federal government of Nigeria regulates and participates in the country's petroleum industry.-History:...
(NNPC), and served as a link between an oil refinery in the southeastern town of Warri
Warri, Nigeria
Warri is a major oil city in Delta State, Nigeria, with a population of over 300,000 people. The people of Warri are mainly the Urhobos, Itsekiris, and Ijaws, but other ethnic groups also live within the city. Warri is predominantly Christian, as is most of Southern Nigeria...
, 340 kilometres (211.3 mi) southeast of Lagos, and Kaduna, 610 kilometres (379 mi) miles north of Warri. After igniting on October 18, the fire burned until a firefighting company from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
was able to extinguish the blaze on October 23 with a nitrogen-rich foam. During a visit on October 19, Nigerian President
President of Nigeria
The President of Nigeria is the Head of State and head of the national executive. Officially styled President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces. The current President of Nigeria is Goodluck Jonathan.-History:On October 1, 1960, Nigeria gained...
Abdulsalami Abubakar
Abdulsalami Abubakar
General Abdulsalami Alhaji Abubakar is a Nigerian general who was President of Nigeria from June 9, 1998 until May 29, 1999. He succeeded Sani Abacha upon Abacha's death. It was during Abubakar's leadership that Nigeria adopted its new constitution on May 5, 1999, which provided for multiparty...
promised to provide the necessary support to give aid in addition to develop solutions to prevent these types of tragedies from occurring again.
Weeks after the explosion, the death toll continued to rise as many of those with injuries died while in hospitals, while others fled care as a result of fearing arrest by the Nigerian government on suspicion of igniting the blaze. Due to the intensity of the blaze, many victims were too badly burned to be identified, and as a result over 300 bodies were buried in mass graves.