Four persons are reported dead and two others injured in a gas explosion that hit a panel beater’s shop in Eliozu Community, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State on Thursday.
The explosion was said to have occurred in the evening when the shop owner was preparing to close for the day.
Charred and dismembered body parts of the victims could be seen littering the scene of the incident as at Friday morning.
Eyewitnesses say the explosion was caused by a leak in one of the gas cylinders used in the shop which after exploding caused two other cylinders nearby to explode also.
Quoting eyewitnesses, THISDAY reports that two victims allegedly died on the spot while one died on the way to hospital in the vehicle conveying him. The fourth reportedly died in hospital after the hospital’s staff refused to treat him until a deposit of N35,000 was paid.
Confirming the incident, State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Muhammed, said the number of casualties was still in doubt.