The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed that 18 persons sustained injuries following a gas explosion in the Oroazi community of Port Harcourt on Sunday evening.
The explosion, which occurred at a gas refilling shop, caused significant damage to nearby buildings, sending shockwaves through the community.
Confirming the incident to journalists on Monday, the command’s spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, attributed the explosion to a mishap involving a welder working on a refrigerator.
“Yes, I can confirm that the explosion was caused by a welder repairing a refrigerator,” Iringe-Koko said.
“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.”