Gas explosion in Abuja restaurant leaves pregnant woman, 10 others, severely injured
No fewer than eleven persons, including a pregnant woman, have sustained serious injuries following a gas explosion that rocked a restaurant in Abuja on Wednesday.
The explosion was said to have occurred as workers at Rosy Restaurant in Area 11 went about the day’s business.
The pregnant woman simply identified as Ajayi was burned in her face, legs and hands. She told NAN that she needed to go for scan to ascertain the condition of her baby. Other victims of the explosion were said to have been taken to Asokoro general hospital.
Another worker at the restaurant, Rachael Awu, said she was attending to a customer when the explosion occurred. Rachael said that the explosion of the gas cylinder outside the restaurant caused the one inside to also explode.
“I was serving customers and I went to pack meal; as I looked, back I just heard the explosion,” she said.
“The fire started from the back of the restaurant where one of the cylinders was stationed. I was facing outside and when I tried to look back, I saw fire from the explosion.
“One of the gas cylinders was stationed outside the restaurant in the open space, and there is another gas inside where we usually store meat.”
Another victim, Rose Kenu, she was in the restaurant when the gas exploded.
“We were cooking inside the restaurant because that is where the kitchen is located,” she said.
The Acting Managing Director, Health and Human Services Secretary, Dr. Aminu Mile, said the agency would ensure adequate treatment of the victims.
Acting Managing Director, Asokoro Hospital, Dr Nnabuchi Chidi, said that the hospital would refer some of the victims to the National Hospital.
