Scores of persons have been feared dead following a gas explosion in Lafia, the Nasarawa state capital. Some vehicles and tricycles conveying passengers along Jos road were hit by flames of fire reeling from the explosion leaving an unspecified number of persons burnt alive, while others sustained severe burnt as the fire continued to spread as people scampered for safety.
Men of the Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC) and fire service were seen evacuating victims of the explosion when our correspondent visited the scene of the incident.
A witness told New Telegraph, the explosion occurred when workers were offloading gas into a commercial Gas plant which suddenly exploded.
He said wired flame of fire spread swiftly when gas plant explored and razed some shops and offices located near the vicinity.
An Okada rider who escaped the explosion said that he escaped narrowly but the fire caught the passenger he was carrying from behind but succeeded in removing his clothes and escaped without minor injury.
Another survivor of the incident who gave his as Musa said:’’ only God knows the number of person that died in that explosion.I saw a
bus burning with passengers said. Some were rolling on the ground trying to escape but were not luck they all burnt”.
Musa blamed the unfortunate incident on the operator of the gas plant and negligence of state authorities checkmate citing of inflammatory businesses at the heart of the town.
He called on the state government assist victims of the explosion in hospitals as they were in severe pains, just as he called on the
relevant authorities ensure that such business be operated at the outskirt of the metropolis to forestall future occurrence.