More than 15 persons were, yesterday, feared dead with
40 others hospitalized with various degrees of injuries following a gas
explosion at Monaco Gas Station situated in the premises of Natson Petroleum
Nig. Ltd., in Lafia, the capital of Nasarawa State.
It was gathered that the explosion was caused by gas
leakage from one of the reservoirs at the gas station. According to reports,
two motorists, who first noticed the leakage, attempted to flee but collided
and went up in flames. About 17 vehicles, including two fuel tankers,
motorcycles and three tricycles caught in the inferno, were burnt to ashes.
The casualty unit of the Dalhatu Araf Specialist
Hospital, DASH, Lafia, it was observed that the hospital was littered with
burnt victims of the gas explosion victims, as medical personnel were seen
battling to save their lives. Sympathisers were seen trooping to the hospital
for a glance at victims, who were conveyed to the hospital by officials of
Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, from the scene of the explosion.
It was further
gathered that some of the victims were caught up in the inferno while plying
the Lafia-Abuja Highway, especially students of the Nasarawa State Polytechnic,
Lafia, who were going for lectures. Survivor speaks One of the survivors, Yusuf
Audu, a second year Computer Science student of the state polytechnic, told
Vanguard that the explosion occurred while he was waiting to board a vehicle to
school.
According to Audu, “I remain grateful to God for being
alive among my fellow victims.” While expressing surprise over the incident, he
called on the state government to take urgent measure to address the ugly
incident. A medical personnel at the Dalhatu Araf Specialist hospital, who
spoke to newsmen on condition of anonymity, said the victims were brought in
unconscious and naked.
Management of
the hospital declined comment on the number of casualties brought in, when
Vanguard contacted the Public Relations unit of the hospital. Senate President
Meanwhile, the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, who arrived Lafia, the
state capital few hours after the gas explosion, in continuation of his
consultation visits to state chapters of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, ahead
of the party primaries, headed to the Lafia Specialist Hospital, where he
commiserated with victims of the fire incident. He commended the swift response
of the emergency management agencies and management of the hospital and prayed
for the quick recovery of the victims.
Contacted, the spokesman of Nasarawa State Police
Command, Samaila Usman, said the command received a distress call on the
incident, swung into action to avert possible break down of law and order. He
said the situation was under control, while investigation will be carried out
to ascertain the cause, urging the public to remain calm.
We’ll ensure thorough probe, govt mourns—Govt
Meanwhile, the
state government has expressed shock and sadness over the gas explosion and
pledged to ensure a thorough investigation is carried out on the cause,
according to the Deputy Governor, Mr. Silas Agara, who spoke during an
on-the-spot assessment visit to the scene.
Officials of National Emergency Management Agency,
NEMA; Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC; FRSC, the Police among
others, were at the scene of the incident managing the situation. Accompanied
by the state Commissioner of Police, Yahaya Bello, and Chairman Lafia Local
Government Area, Mallam Aminu Muazu, Agara described the explosion as most
unfortunate.
The Deputy Governor, who expressed condolences and
sympathy to the victims on behalf of Governor Umaru Al-Makura, applauded the
security and emergency response teams for their quick response, while advising
the public to stay away from the scene to allow relevant agencies carry out
their investigation. He also visited the affected persons at the Dalhatu Araf
Specialist Hospital, Lafia, where over 37 victims were currently receiving
treatment. Meanwhile, Sector Commander of FRSC Nasarawa, Mrs Faustina Alegbe,
assured that the command will continue to search for other victims of the
incident.
15 dead, 17 vehicles burnt as gas explosion rocks Nasarawa
Reviewed by Unknown
on
Tuesday, September 11, 2018
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