On Friday, May 16, 2025, a terrible accident happened at a plumbing market along Uga Street in Onitsha, Anambra State. A gas cylinder exploded while a welder was working on a piece of metal.
The Anambra State Police Command confirmed the sad incident in a statement on Saturday. They said the gas cylinder blew up because it got too hot, which caused the explosion. One person died in the blast, and six other people were injured.
The explosion caused a lot of panic in the market as people tried to run to safety. Police officers from the Onitsha Head Bridge Divisional Headquarters quickly arrived at the scene. With help from kind people around, they rescued the six injured victims.
The injured were rushed to a hospital for treatment. Sadly, the person who died was taken to the mortuary.
The police have now secured the area to stop anyone from stealing or causing more trouble.
The Commissioner of Police in Anambra, Mr. Ikioye Orutugu, said he is deeply sorry about the incident and wants to make sure it never happens again. He shared some safety tips, like:
- Always check and maintain gas cylinders and equipment regularly.
- Store gas cylinders safely in cool places.
- Follow the safety instructions from the manufacturers when using gas.
He advised workers and business owners to be careful and always follow safety rules to keep everyone safe.
