Police confirm 18 injured in Port Harcourt gas explosion
By Jeffrey Agbo
Rivers State Police have confirmed that 18 people sustained severe injuries following a gas explosion in the Oroazi community of Port Harcourt.
The incident, which occurred on Sunday evening at a gas refilling shop, caused extensive damage to surrounding buildings and shocked residents.
Grace Iringe-Koko, the police spokesperson in Rivers State, disclosed during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday that the explosion was triggered by a welder working on a refrigerator.
“Yes, I can confirm that the explosion was caused by a welder repairing a refrigerator.
“The technician was using a gas cylinder to weld while simultaneously trying to refill gas on the refrigerator, which led to the explosion,” she explained.
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Iringe-Koko further stated that 18 people, including the welder, suffered various degrees of burns but noted, “Fortunately, no lives were lost.”
The injured victims, which reportedly include a pregnant woman, four children and a couple, were promptly evacuated to the Rivers State Teaching Hospital in Port Harcourt for treatment.
A witness, Tamuno, described the scene as devastating. He explained that the explosion triggered a chain reaction, igniting other gas cylinders in the shop.
“Most of the victims were residents and passers-by who unfortunately happened to be near the shop at the time,” he said, expressing hope for the victims’ survival.