The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed that 18 individuals sustained injuries in a gas explosion that occurred in the Oroazi community of Port Harcourt on Sunday evening. The explosion, which took place at a gas refilling shop, caused significant damage to nearby buildings.
Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday, Police spokesperson SP Grace Iringe-Koko explained that the explosion was triggered by a welder who was repairing a refrigerator. The technician was using a gas cylinder for the welding process while attempting to refill gas into the appliance, which led to the blast.
“No fewer than 18 persons, including the technician, sustained injuries, but fortunately, no lives were lost,” Iringe-Koko stated. The victims, who suffered varying degrees of burns, were quickly transported to the hospital for medical treatment.
Iringe-Koko confirmed that the police have launched an investigation into the cause of the explosion and promised to release further findings to the public.
An eyewitness, Tamuno, described the scene as chaotic, mentioning that the victims included a pregnant woman, four children, and a couple. The explosion caused a chain reaction, setting off additional gas cylinders in the shop. Many of the injured were residents and passers-by who were in close proximity to the scene at the time.
Tamuno expressed hope for the recovery of the injured, many of whom were rushed to the Rivers State Teaching Hospital in Port Harcourt.
Leave a Reply