Breaking News: Deadly Gas Explosion In Owerri, Three Feared Dead! (Graphic Content)

Although reports were varying as to what led to the explosion in Okpokiri Petrol Station located along Orji road, Diamond Bank Bustop, authorities on site confirmed that it was a gas dispensing tank that had exploded and led to the loss of life and destruction of properties.

One person in the crowd who pleaded to remain anonymous had said that he witnessed the victims carrying out welding work on the tank just before the explosion.

As at when this report was compiled three were said to have died on the spot and the remains of one man lay on the floor as other parts of his body appeared to be misplaced.

Rescue workers on the scene reported that the tank was being worked on by the engineers who were the casualties, before the incident.

Click Here to see video (Warning: graphic content)

Affected Areas.

The explosion had first raised a bomb scare among residents who were mainly made up of students and many of the rooms in hostels close by were badly damaged. Chidex and Obiudo hostels were mostly affected as the ceiling fell and injured some students who were asleep in their rooms. A Diamond hotel too was affected as the PVC fell out of its place in a reclining area.

Across the filling station was a First Bank that lost most of its glasses in the explosion and also a Diamond Bank by its left lost its windows.

Response By Authorities.

Immediately the explosion occurred the first on site were the local Police, Orji Branch, who condorned of the areas and barricaded spectators from getting too close to the hot zone. They quickly took two badly injured people to the nearest hospital for medical care. Nearly an hour later, a Fire Service tank arrived to put in check any fear of more explosion as the road had at least four filling stations side to side.