Three Severely Injured As CNG-Powered Vehicle Explodes In Edo

A Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) powered vehicle has exploded at NIPCO filling station along the Benin-Auchi Expressway, Edo State.

The dire incident, which occured on Wednesday, left three people severely injured, including a motorist who suffered eye injuries.

An attendant at the station told Punch on Thursday that two others, a woman whose stomach was ripped open and another person whose foot was amputated due to the blast, are also receiving treatment at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Ugbowo.

The source claimed that the explosion was traced to a cylinder that had been fabricated by a welder without proper approval.

The welder has reportedly turned himself into the police.

The source said, “The explosion occurred while vehicles were queuing to refill their cylinders at the station. The vehicle being attended to suddenly exploded.

“One motorist suffered an eye injury, a woman’s stomach was torn open, and another person’s foot was amputated from the impact. They are all at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital receiving treatment, and we hope none of them will lose their lives.”

When the aforementioned publication visited the scene, a technician was seen inspecting cylinders before vehicles were allowed to refill.

Attempts to speak with the station manager were unsuccessful.

However, the Public Relations Officer of UBTH, Joshua Uwaila, confirmed that he had spoken to the man with the eye injury, who was reported to be in stable condition.