How Gas Explosion Killed 9, Injured 25 in Nasarawa
A morning gas explosion from a leaking dispenser inflicts sorrow on the people of Lafia, Nasarawa State.
It was really a “Black Monday” in Lafia, Nasarawa State capital when nine people were killed, 25 others sustained various degrees of burns and many vehicles razed when a truck loaded with gas exploded at the Monaco Gas Nigeria Limited plant.
The plant is concealed behind the Natson Petroleum filling station and mini bar selling where soft drinks are sold.
Although there are different versions to what triggered the explosion but the most pronounced was that truck containing gas failed to offload due to challenges involving the dispenser.
A staff of the gas company told Daily Trust on Sunday that the truck arrived at 8pm the previous day but the dispenser had a challenge. According to him, engineers were invited from Kaduna refinery and discovered that dispenser hose was blocked due to dirt.
He explained that the engineers had difficulties coupling the dispenser which had started to leak fast and spread around the vicinity.
“This happen around 10am and we were advised to keep a distance from the truck. Our boss called Fire service before the explosion. They arrive in time and we teamed up and block the road right from the stadium junction and diverted motorists to the other lane to avoid breakdown of fire,” he said.
He added that, “while trying to divert motorists, one motorcycle footrest hit the road and sparked a light which triggered the fire that caused the explosion. We were standing close by but fortunately the wind was blowing away from us. Almost all the victims were facing the wind.”
A security guard at station, 65-year-old Baushe Ahmadu, told our correspondent that it was God that saved him from the disaster. He said what saved him was that he left for breakfast at the time the incident occurred.
A survivor, who is also a commercial tricycle driver Joseph Abarike, told Daily Trust on Sunday that a vehicle sparked a fire near where he was and got burnt in the leg and some parts of his body.
The Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Mr Silas Agara, who first visited the scene and Dalhatu Arab Specialist Hospital where victims received treatment, said the state government was touched by the loss of life and source of livelihood of many.
Governor Tanko Al-Makura who later visited the scene told newsmen that “A day like this for us in Nasarawa State is a day of mourning. It is unfortunate and sad situation.” He directed that victims be given the best treatment even if the situation required taking them outside the country.
Already all affected victims were evacuated to the National Trauma Centre in Abuja and University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada. The Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, Dalhatu Arab Specialist Hospital, Lafia, Dr Egba Edegwo, said due to the severity of the situation, he quickly mobilized some ambulances to convey the critically ill patients to the trauma center in Abuja.
He added in a case of a pregnant woman, an emergency Cesarean section was done and the baby removed. Meanwhile, Nasarawa State House of Assembly said it would soon come up with a law to stop gas activities within urban cities across the state.
Speaker of the House, Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi, who made this known when he led other members on the spot assessment to the gas station, sympathized with the victims and prayed God to grant the soul of those who lost their lives eternal rest.
“This kind of business supposed to be at the outskirt of the city. We are going to come up with a law to stop these activities in the heart of the city. This is a responsibility and must carry out very soon,” he explained.
When contacted, Nasarawa Police Public Relation Officer, SP Idrisu Kennedy, declined to comments saying that the Commissioner of Police, Yahaya Bello, has directed the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to commenced comprehensive investigation and report to his office.
As it is, the disaster will linger in the minds of many people in the state as such had never happened, at least, not in the immediate past memories.