A kerosene explosion which occurred last Saturday at Rumunduru-Oroigwe in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State has claimed the lives of a mother and her three children.

Eye witness account told The Tide that the woman popularly known in the community as Mama Favour died a painful death last Monday precisely two days after her three children perished in the Saturday tragic  incident. The children were simply identified as Praise, Wisdom and Treasure.

The woman and her children who hail from Enugu State, a source said, they met their untimely death when the mother of three attempted to pour kerosene which she bought from a nearby shop into her kitchen lantern around 9.00pm that fateful Saturday night.

Not suspecting the danger that would result from her action, the kitchen lantern which was already lit, burst into flames before engulfing the mother and her helpless children.

The unfortunate incident has since thrown the family into mourning. The husband of the deceased, Mr Hezekiah Gabriel who is currently receiving treatment from shock at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital confirmed the  incident, but said he was  out of town when the accident happened.

Mr Gabriel said the accident had ruined his life as he had nothing again to show in his marital life.

Some of the neighbours who spoke with The Tide described the accident as pathetic, noting that it was the first time the community would record such an incident.

They, however, appealed to government to put in place measures to check future occurrence.

When contacted on phone, the Rivers State police Public Relations Officer, Dr Rita Inoma-Abbey could not comment on the incident, but promised to call back as at the time of filing this report.