The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed that 18 people sustained severe injuries in a gas explosion that occurred in the Oroazi community of Port Harcourt.
The incident took place on Sunday evening at a gas refilling shop, causing significant damage to nearby buildings.
This explosion is one of several gas and Improvised Explosive Device incidents recorded in the state since 2024, according to the police.
Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday, the command’s spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, revealed that the explosion resulted from a welder’s activities.
“The technician was using a gas cylinder to weld while simultaneously refilling gas into a refrigerator. This led to the explosion,” she stated.
“No fewer than 18 persons, including the technician, sustained injuries, but fortunately, no lives were lost,” she added.
The victims, including a pregnant woman, four children, and a couple, suffered varying degrees of burns and are currently receiving treatment at the Rivers State Teaching Hospital.
An eyewitness described the scene as devastating, noting that the explosion triggered a chain reaction, causing other gas cylinders in the shop to detonate.
The police have launched a full investigation and assured the public that findings will be disclosed in due course.
