A gas explosion that rocked Orokeonuoha Community in Ebonyi Local Government Area on Thursday left 10 people injured. However, the Ebonyi State Police Command has confirmed that no lives were lost in the incident. According to the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Joshua Ukandu, those injured suffered various degrees of burns but thankfully, no fatalities occurred.
In an interview on Saturday in Abakaliki, Ukandu assured the public that the victims were promptly taken to Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, where they are receiving treatment. He noted that the explosion happened at the Good Shepherd Catering School in Orokeonuoha and occurred while students were present on the premises.
Ukandu described the explosion as “very unfortunate,” and suggested that it was caused by a gas cylinder in the school’s kitchen. He reiterated that while the injuries were serious, the incident did not result in any deaths.
Meanwhile, Ebonyi State’s Fire Service has stated that they were not notified about the explosion. Chief Fire Officer Ralph Ibiam, in response to criticism about their absence at the scene, clarified that his team was unaware of the incident. He expressed his sympathies for the injured and stressed the increasing frequency of gas-related accidents in the state.
Ibiam also urged the public to take extra precautions and adhere to safety guidelines, particularly avoiding the use of mobile phones near fuel stations, in kitchens, or around electrical appliances, as fire hazards can escalate quickly.
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