Ten persons may have died when a petroleum pipeline exploded in Abia State at the weekend.

The explosion took place in Uzuaku community in Ukwa West council of the state.

Names of the affected victims were not available at press time, but a community source confirmed the incident, which he said occurred in the wee hours of Saturday.

The incident is said to have thrown the community into mourning.

The source said the explosion took place when community residents went to fetch spilled petrol from a burst pipeline.

The villagers did not report the spill but rather went to help themselves to the flowing hot liquid and were killed when it went up in flames.

Many were burnt but survived and taken to hospital.

A community leader said some of the wounded died in hospital.

The Nation