The death toll from a gas explosion in Kano State on Tuesday has risen to nine.
The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs announced this while announcing the arrival of Mustapha Habib Ahmed, Director-General of the National Emergency Agency, at the scene of the incident.
Earlier, the Kano State police command confirmed the deaths of four people, claiming that a gas explosion, not a bomb, exploded on Tuesday morning.
“Nine dead bodies have been recovered so far from the rubble of a collapsed building beside a primary school following an explosion from a gas cylinder at Aba Road in Sabon Gari area of Kano State.
“DG @nemanigeria Mustapha Habib Ahmed was at the site of the incident and coordinated the rescue operations. NEMA is presently coordinating the rescue operations with sister agencies,” it tweeted.
Meanwhile, the Kano State Government had clarified that the early Tuesday morning explosion in the Sabon Gari area did not occur in a school.
The state Commissioner for Information, Muhammad Garba, said the incident happened at an animal feed store opposite the school along Aba Road, Sabon Gari area of Fagge Local Government.
He said while the cause of the explosion and the damage had yet to be officially ascertained, an investigation has since commenced to determine the cause, impact and measures to be taken.
Garba called on the people in the state, particularly those living in the area where the incident occurred, to remain calm while the government in collaboration with relevant agencies are working on the matter.
The commissioner assured residents that government would keep the public abreast of any development.