The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has
confirmed that five persons died during a gas explosion at
Afaha Ukwa in Eket local government area of Akwa Ibom
state.
Asuquo Antai, DPR’s operations controller in Eket, disclosed
this on Thursday during an interview with NAN.
While eight persons were involved in the incident, which
happened last week, five of them – three males and two
females – were the ones who died.
Antai attributed the tragedy to carelessness, saying gas was
being discharged from a big cylinder without safety
measures.
The controller said the gas escaped into the air and got
straight to a fire point where a lady was operating a
restaurant.
“A week ago, we had a fatal case of gas explosion in which
five people lost their lives,” he said.
“It was just a pole from where the cylinder was being filled,
and the fire got to where gas was being discharged.
“The tank exploded and the people at the restaurant were
affected. Same as those by the tank.”
Antai said sensitisation talk would be organised for all gas
retail outlets, in order to empower people on how to operate
gas and minimise risks associated with it.
He said this was with a view to preventing similar incidents
in the future.
Antai held that most gas retail outlets were yet to register in
the state, saying that the agency would no longer allow
them to operate without license.

http://www.thecable.ng/gas-explosion-ki
lls-5-akwa-ibom