By Douglas Mojaye
At least six persons including an eight-year-old boy has been reported injured following a gas explosion that reportedly rocked shops along the Iwhrekpokpor road in Ughelli , Delta State.
The explosion was as result of gas cylinder which went aflame at a local gas filing station in the area.
The three loud sounds which heralded the explosions caused panic among shop owners and road users as they flew for safety.
NIGER DELTA TODAY learnt that the eight-year-old boy was severely burnt during the incident while his mother’s shop was completely razed.
A total of ten shops and their goods were completely burnt.
No live was loss in the fire, but goods worth millions of naira were destroyed.
A resident told our correspondent, “The gas cylinder exploded as a result of gas leakage which was ignited by a nearby fire from a woman selling fried fish.”
“The explosion also hit a woman who was on a commercial motorcycle her face and part of her hand was burnt and was rushed to the hospital by people around the area.”
A shop owner was seen lamenting her loss over the incident when this reporter visited the scene. While our correspondent was still there, other cylinders went off and exploded.
One Mrs Agatha who own one of the ten burnt shops said “This fire was caused by the boy selling cooking gas here and one of the gas cylinders exploded which resulted in inferno.
“The boy is not supposed to be selling gas in this area because here is a residential place and also too busy for this kind of business.”
