The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed that 18 individuals were severely injured in a gas explosion that occurred in the Oroazi community of Port Harcourt.
The explosion, which took place on Sunday evening at a gas refilling shop, caused extensive damage to surrounding buildings.
This latest incident is part of a troubling series of gas-related explosions and Improvised Explosive Device (IED) incidents in the state since 2024.
Spokesperson for the police command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday.
She explained that the explosion was triggered by a welder who was repairing a refrigerator. “The technician was using a gas cylinder to weld while simultaneously attempting to refill gas into the refrigerator, which led to the blast,” Iringe-Koko said.
Eighteen people, including the technician, sustained varying degrees of injuries, though fortunately, there were no fatalities. The injured victims, some with serious burns, were immediately taken to the hospital for treatment.
Iringe-Koko also stated that the police have launched a full investigation into the incident and promised to release their findings to the public once available.
An eyewitness, identified as Tamuno, described the explosion as catastrophic, noting that the victims included a pregnant woman, four children, and a couple. “The blast triggered a chain reaction, causing other gas cylinders in the shop to detonate,” he said.
Most of the victims were local residents and passers-by who happened to be near the shop at the time of the explosion. Tamuno added that many of the injured were rushed to the Rivers State Teaching Hospital in Port Harcourt and expressed hope for their recovery.
NAN
