A pregnant woman, four children, and a couple are among the over 20 persons who are critically injured following a gas explosion in the Orazi axis of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Tribune Online learnt that the incident which occurred on Saturday afternoon near a densely populated area in Orazi called ‘Big Tree’, affected residents and some passers-by who suffered severe burns and were rushed to the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital in Port Harcourt.
According to reports, the sound of the explosion that shattered the area occurred in a gas refilling shop when a technician who runs the place was said to be fixing a faulty cylinder.
Immediately the cylinder exploded, it affected other cylinders inside the shop, triggering multiple explosions, even as the welder was the first victim.
Eyewitnesses disclosed that the resulting fire affected some surrounding buildings as most of the occupants fled for dear lives, adding that the firefighters who later arrived had a hectic time before putting out the inferno.
A relative of one of the victims who did not want his name in print said the owner of the shop has been selling gas for years now.
According to him, over N500,000 has been spent already on treatment of his in-law and her husband, who were affected in the explosion.
He stated in an emotion-laden voice, “I was just called in the evening about the incident because my sister-in-law and the husband are involved. When my wife picked the call her countenance changed immediately.
“So I asked what happened. She said it was a gas explosion and that her sister is at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital. I lost my appetite and immediately drove to the hospital. I know how Orazi is. there are many shops scattered all over just for people to survive.”
While hinting on the cause of the incident, the relative said, “But there is somebody who also refills their cylinders. He has been there for some time now and he is also doing welding work.
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“Sometimes you will see him welding perforated cylinders without following the normal procedure. Maybe he feels that because the cylinder is empty you can carry out any work but it is not done that way.
“So as a result of that the gas exploded and affected the cylinders inside. The other families affected were my brother-in-law, the wife, their two children and himself. They just came back from evangelism.
“They just branched to say hi and that was how they joined. One of my uncles was just passing by and stopped to greet his two grandchildren with him. He too was affected. That was how it happened.
“They are all at the intensive unit taking treatment. So far about N500,000 has gone for drugs and other treatment. We are not talking about the children. We are running my uncle’s expenses while some other person is running that of the children. It is quite unfortunate what we are seeing this January.”
The spokesperson of the Rivers state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident, saying 18 injured persons are receiving treatment in the hospital.
Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police, described the incident as sad, explaining that a welder was repairing a fridge and was carrying to refill gas on the fridge when the incident happened, describing it as sad.
She stated, “Yes I can confirm the incident. It was a technician repairing a Fridge carrying a gas cylinder to weld the fridge when it exploded.
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