A Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered engine car has exploded at a NipCo CNG gas filling station in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
According to sources, the incident happened on Wednesday, October 16, 2024 as the car was refilling with gas.
Many people were said to have been injured in the explosion that wrecked the rear of the vehicle.
The injured had been rushed to the hospital.
Three of the people affected were severely injured, including a motorist who suffered eye injuries.
The Daily Crucible learnt that two others—a woman whose stomach was gravely injured and another person whose foot was severed due to blast impact were evacuated to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital(UBTH) Ugbowo for treatment.
However, two victims who missed the evacuation were seen walking around with their injuries while some concerned onlookers advised them to seek treatment at a hospital.
Some of the by – standers pointed out the blown-out gas tank and attributed the cause of the explosion to cylinder with traces of fabrication by a welder.
The Daily Crucible reports that the CNG initiative being promoted by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Government entails use of safe cylinders that have been described as bullet and accident proof as well as being certified by the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON). The cylinders are also molded and devoid of any welding work.
