Atleast two welders have been confirmed dead, while three others sustained injuries following a tragic explosion at a filling station in Plateau State.
The incident occurred on Friday 17th April 2026 at Natty Filling Station in Daffo community, located in Bokkos Local Government Area, during maintenance work on an underground fuel tank.
According to eyewitness accounts, the explosion happened while the victims were carrying out welding repairs on a leaking section of the tank. The workers reportedly believed the tank was empty and safe to handle.
A community leader and Chairman of the Community Peace Observers, Kefas Mallai, confirmed the incident, stating that the explosion occurred suddenly, engulfing the area in flames.
“Two persons lost their lives, and three others were injured when the underground tank exploded during welding work,” Mallai said.
He explained that the deceased Mr.Emmanuel Mapak a welder and his apprentice were working directly on the tank at the time of the blast and died instantly.
The three injured victims, who were nearby when the explosion occurred, have since been rushed to a medical facility for treatment.
The incident has drawn a crowd of shocked residents and sympathisers to the scene, raising fresh concerns over safety practices during maintenance operations involving fuel storage facilities.
At the time of filling this report authorities are yet to release an official statement on the cause of the explosion.