Metro
Police confirms 18 injured in Rivers gas explosion
The Rivers State police command has confirmed 18 persons were injured in a gas explosion in the Oroazi community of Port Harcourt, the state capital.
The incident which occurred on Sunday evening at a gas refilling shop caused significant damage to nearby buildings in the community.
The latest explosion followed a series of gas and Improvised Explosive Device (IED) incidents recorded in the state in 2024.
The command’s spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident to journalists on Monday.
READ ALSO: Troops kill another Zamfara bandit leader, recover cache of arms
She said: “Yes, I can confirm that the explosion was caused by a welder repairing a refrigerator.
‘’The technician was using a gas cylinder to weld while simultaneously trying to refill gas on the refrigerator which led to the explosion.
“No fewer than 18 persons, including the technician, sustained injuries but fortunately, no lives were lost.”
She said the police had launched a full investigation into the incident and would share their findings with the public.
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