18 Injured in Gas Explosion in Rivers State

Eighteen individuals have been injured following a gas explosion in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, on Sunday evening. The explosion took place at a gas refill station in the Oroazi community, causing significant damage to nearby buildings.

Rivers State Police spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident on Monday. According to her, the explosion occurred when a welder’s equipment malfunctioned while he was repairing a refrigerator. The technician, who was using a gas cylinder to weld, was simultaneously refilling gas into the appliance, which led to the blast.

“No fewer than 18 people, including the technician, were injured, though fortunately, there were no fatalities,” Iringe-Koko reported. The victims, who sustained varying degrees of burn injuries, have been rushed to the State University Teaching Hospital for treatment.

An investigation into the cause of the explosion has been launched by the police.