Three injured as CNG car explodes in Edo

Three people have sustained various degrees of injuries after a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) powered vehicle exploded at NIPCO filling station along the Benin-Auchi Expressway, Edo State.

NaijaOnPoint.com.ng (NOP) reports that the incident, which occurred on Wednesday, was traced to a cylinder that a welder had fabricated without proper approval.

An attendant at the station told reporters 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 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.”

Following the incident, a technician was assigned to inspect cylinders before vehicles were allowed to refill.

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