Gas Explosion in Rivers Injures 18, Caused by Technician’s Error
A gas explosion in the Oroazi community of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Sunday evening has left 18 people severely injured. The blast occurred at a gas refilling shop and caused significant damage to nearby buildings. Fortunately, no fatalities were reported.
SP Grace Iringe-Koko, spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, confirmed the incident in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday. She explained that the explosion was triggered by a welder who was repairing a refrigerator. The technician had been using a gas cylinder to weld while attempting to refill the refrigerator, which caused the explosion.
Among the injured were the technician and 17 other individuals, including a pregnant woman, four children, and a couple. Eyewitnesses described the scene as devastating, with one account highlighting that the explosion set off a chain reaction, causing other gas cylinders in the shop to ignite.
The injured victims sustained varying degrees of burns and were quickly taken to the Rivers State Teaching Hospital in Port Harcourt for medical treatment. Iringe-Koko assured the public that a thorough investigation is underway and that the police will share their findings in due course.
Local residents and passers-by, who were near the shop at the time of the explosion, were among the victims. The incident marks the latest in a series of gas and Improvised Explosive Device (IED) incidents reported in the state since the beginning of 2024.
