Nine Dead In Nigeria Gas Explosion: State Governor
Sumaira FH Published September 11, 2018 | 10:28 PM
Nine people were killed and dozens more injured, some of them critically, in an explosion and fire at a gas filling station in central Nigeria, the state governor said on Tuesday.
Lafia, Nigeria,(APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Sep, 2018 ) :Nine people were killed and dozens more injured, some of them critically, in an explosion and fire at a gas filling station in central Nigeria, the state governor said on Tuesday.
The accident happened on Monday in Lafia, the capital of Nasarawa state, 190 kilometres (120 miles) by road east of Abuja.
"At the moment, we have recorded nine deaths as against the large figures being speculated in the media," Nasarawa governor Tanko Almakura told reporters at the scene.
Of the injured the worst affected had been taken to Abuja for treatment for severe burns, he added.
Conflicting tolls of dead and injured are not unusual in Nigeria and getting corroboration of figures is often problematic.
President Muhammadu Buhari's office had earlier said "several" people were killed, without specifying numbers, while a senior road safety official told AFP three died.
"Two people were killed on the spot while one person later died in the hospital," said the member with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
Thirty-two people were taken to hospital "with many of them in critical condition with severe burns", he said on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to the media.
An AFP photographer at the scene said many vehicles and some nearby houses were gutted in the inferno.
Firefighters alerted to the initial leak have said they were unable to prevent the blast, which witnesses said was the first of its kind in the city.
Households in Nigeria and wider West Africa rely on bottled gas for cooking but accidents caused by improper storage, refilling or lax safety procedures are commonplace.
Officials say the location of gas filling stations in residential areas is responsible for most accidents.
In one incident in 2015, nine people were killed in a blast in the southeastern town of Nnewi as they filled cooking gas cylinders on Christmas Eve.
Ibrahim Balarabe-Abdulallahi, the speaker of Nasarawa House of Assembly, said: "The station should be on the outskirts of the city.
"We are going to come with a law to stop this kind of business in the heart of the city," he told reporters.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Robinson, bowlers help New Zealand go 2-1 up against Pakistan
Shahzeb Chachar to hold khuli kachehri on April 26
Heatwave amid Israel's aggression in Gaza brings new misery, disease risk
Tourism must change, mayor says as Venice launches entry fee
Court adjourns Judicial Complex attack case till May 17
Nasreen Noori’s book ‘Popatan Jahra Khwab’ launched
Wafaqi Mohtasib inspection team visits Excise and taxation office
AJLAC announces 5th Conference titled ‘People’s Mandate: Safeguarding Civil ..
Pak-US officials engage to enhance trade, investment ties
IBCC to promote educational excellence, expand regional presence
Pakistani 'Blue Helmets' serving UN Peacekeeping Mission in DR Congo set to leav ..
Putin says plans to visit China in May
More Stories From World
-
Slot 'confident' of Liverpool job as 'negotiations' take place
3 hours ago -
Google parent Alphabet's Q1 profits beat estimates: company
3 hours ago -
WADA asks 'independent prosecutor' to examine Chinese swimmers case
3 hours ago -
New York court overturns Harvey Weinstein sex crime conviction
3 hours ago -
Bagnaia and Spanish rivals chase victory at Jerez
5 hours ago -
Russian, Ukrainian strikes kill at least 10 in frontline regions
5 hours ago
-
Heatwave amid Israel's aggression in Gaza brings new misery, disease risk
5 hours ago -
Tourism must change, mayor says as Venice launches entry fee
5 hours ago -
Pakistani 'Blue Helmets' serving UN Peacekeeping Mission in DR Congo set to leave after 20 years of ..
6 hours ago -
Putin says plans to visit China in May
6 hours ago -
US reinstates open internet rules rescinded under Trump
6 hours ago -
Honda announces US$11 bn EV battery and vehicle plant in Canada
6 hours ago