Three people were feared dead late Friday night after a gas explosion rocked the Bioku-Alaadun Area of Ona Ara Local Government, Ibadan, Oyo State.
An eyewitness who spoke with Saturday PUNCH said he saw mangled bodies at the scene.
The explosion occurred while a tanker was discharging gas into a retail outlet.
The casualties were said to include the owner of the gas shop and others who were nearby at the time of the incident.
The General Manager, Oyo State Fire Services Agency, Yemi Akinyinka, confirmed the incident in a telephone interview with our correspondent, saying operatives were already on the ground working to contain the situation.
He said there were casualties but noted that full details were still being compiled.
The Special Adviser to the state Governor on Fire Reform and Chairman of the Fire Services Agency, Hon. Moroof Adebayo Akinwande, confirmed the casualties.
“It was a gas tanker, registered LSR268YC and loaded with 15 tonnes of LPG, that exploded while transferring its content into the gas skid tank.
“The blast damaged two tankers and a residential building. Three bodies were recovered and handed over to policemen from Akanran Division,” he said.
He noted that the operation was handled by state firefighters in collaboration with a team from the Federal Fire Service in Ibadan.
“The explosion caused panic among residents, but the prompt arrival of our officers helped bring the situation under control,” he said.
Akinwande urged operators of gas facilities to secure approvals from the Fire Service, DPR and other relevant bodies before installing tanks or cylinders to prevent avoidable disasters.
Saturday Punch, western mirror