Nine injured in Chegutu GMB blast

AN explosion that occurred yesterday afternoon believed to have been caused by accumulating gases at the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) Chegutu silos left nine workers of the parastatal injured.

The nine were rushed to Chegutu General Hospital where their condition was said to be critical.

Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs and Devolution permanent secretary, Mr Josephat Jaji confirmed the incident yesterday, saying investigations to find the cause of the explosion were underway.

“I can confirm that nine people were injured when an explosion occurred at one of the silos that they were working in,” he said.

“There were no fatalities and the injured were rushed to Chegutu General Hospital.

“We are, however, waiting for experts to give the cause of the blast as investigations are now underway.”

GMB corporate communications officer, Mr Nixon Kanyemba, said they were waiting for more information on the incident.

Chegutu West legislator, Dexter Nduna, said the explosion was caused mainly by gases that accumulated from chemicals used to treat crops and seed.

He said the likelihood of the gases exploding would have been caused by flames or an electrical spark.

“The district medical officer for Chegutu has confirmed that the local hospital has received people who were injured during an explosion that occurred at GMB Chegutu,” he said.

Fire brigade teams deployed from Jason Ziyapapa Moyo Air Force base and Municipality of Chegutu rendered assistance after the blast.

In 2018, at least four GMB workers were killed, while three others were seriously injured after a massive explosion rocked the GMB’s Lions Den depot in Mashonaland West province.

The explosion was so powerful that it ripped through reinforced concrete structures and caused a fire.