Eighteen individuals sustained varying injuries following a gas explosion at a refill station in the Oroazi community of Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
The explosion, which occurred on Sunday evening, also caused damage to several nearby buildings.
Confirming the incident on Monday, Rivers State Police Command spokesperson Grace Iringe-Koko explained that the explosion resulted from a malfunction in the equipment of a welder repairing a refrigerator.
“The technician was using a gas cylinder to weld while simultaneously trying to refill gas into 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.
She further added that the victims who suffered varying degrees of burn injuries have been taken to the state university teaching hospital where they are receiving treatment.
The Command has instituted an investigation into the incident.