Police Confirm 18 Injured In Port Harcourt Gas Explosion
The blast occurred on Saturday afternoon at a gas refilling station, resulting in substantial damage to surrounding buildings.
A gas explosion rocked that the Oroazi community in Port Harcourt over the weekend, left 18 people injured, according to the Rivers State police command.
The blast occurred on Saturday afternoon at a gas refilling station, resulting in substantial damage to surrounding buildings.
This incident is the latest in a string of gas explosions and Improvised Explosive Device (IED) incidents that have plagued the state since 2024, raising concerns about public safety.
SP Grace Iringe-Koko, the command’s spokesperson, confirmed the casualty figure to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday.
“Yes, I can confirm that the explosion was caused by a welder repairing a refrigerator,” she said.
“The technician was using a gas cylinder to weld while simultaneously trying to refill gas on the refrigerator which led to the explosion.”
“No fewer than 18 persons, including the technician, sustained injuries but fortunately, no lives were lost,” she added.
According to Iringe-Koko, the injured victims sustained burns of varying severity and were quickly rushed to the hospital for medical attention.
She also assured that the police have initiated a thorough investigation into the explosion and will make their findings public in due course.
An eyewitness, Tamuno, recounted the horrific scene, stating that the victims included a pregnant woman, four children, and a couple, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake.
“The explosion triggered a chain reaction with other gas cylinders in the shop also exploding.
“Most of the victims were residents and passers-by who unfortunately happened to be near the shop at the time,” he said.
