EXPLOSION AT GAS PLANT, 4 INJURED IN IBADAN

An explosion at a gas refilling plant at Orita-Challenge area of Ibadan on Monday injured four persons while two vehicles  and a motorcycle were burnt.

 The explosion, which occurred at the premises of Hephzibah Petroleum Limited and Gas Refilling Plant, happened at about 3. p.m. when a mobile tanker was trans-loading gas into a stationary tank.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that one of the burnt vehicles was a Passat car marked PH 381 KJA while the other was a commercial cab with registration number AL 461 AKN.

The burnt motorcycle was marked GBY 278 QB.

The spokesperson of the police in Oyo State, Mrs. Bisi Clet-Ilobanafor, told newsmen at the scene of the incident that those injured were  passersby outside the premises of the company.

Clet-Ilobanafor, who could not confirm the cause of the explosion, however, said the wind may have blown the flames beyond the walls of the company.

The police spokesperson, who said the injured victims had been evacuated to LAD Hospital at Orita-Challenge, urged residents to remain calm as the incident was a mere industrial accident and not a bomb explosion.

One of the victims, Oyelami Mufutau, said he  escaped death by divine intervention as he was rescued from the burning vehicle by passersby.