By Ovedhe Hezekiah
Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa has paid N3 million for treatment of persons affected by gas explosion in the State on Friday,19th January.
When the state Governor visited the scene on Saturday, he confirmed that four persons died and 15 persons hospitalised from burns following an explosion in a gas plant at Agbor on Friday.
Residents of Agbor in Ika South Local Government Area of Delta state, was thrown into mourning on Friday evening as gas explosion reportedly claimed 4 lives leaving 15 others badly injured.
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This reporter gathered that the explosion erupted from Osadebe Gas plant along the expressway, close to Eye clinic Agbor, Delta State, leaving several persons dead from various degree of burn and others badly injured.
The governor described the fire disaster as an unfortunate incident and announced that the State Government would pick the bill for medical treatment of the victims.
He said that the surviving patients were referred to a specialised centre for the treatment of burns at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) for further treatment because of the high degree of burns they sustained.
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“It was an unfortunate fire incident involving a gas station where the tanker was trying to discharge gas.
“We have visited the place and the victims and we have seen the extent of damage caused by the inferno.
“We lost four persons, three children and a woman.
“After my visit to the two families that lost their dear ones, I also visited the Central Hospital at Agbor where they were initially rushed to with varying degree of burns ranging from 80 to 90 per cent.
“They were immediately offered medical services even though they wouldn’t have been able to attend to them because of the extent of the burns so they have to transfer them to the Federal Medical Centre Asaba and the University of Benin Teaching Hospital with aid of ambulances provided by the State Government.
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“I have directed the Commissioner for Health to make some deposits at the hospitals to enable them have full treatment,” he said.
The Governor said that complaints of inadequate medical care for the victims at the Agbor Central Hospital were misplaced, adding that most people who complained didn’t have an idea of what they were talking about.
On siting of gas plants at residential areas, he said that he would liaise with the State House of Assembly to come up with a law regulating such investments.
“Obviously its a sad situation and we thank God that this one wasn’t close to a densely populated area otherwise the damage would have been more.
“I have just told the member representing Ika South Constituency, Hon. Festus Okoh, that I am going to meet with the House of Assembly to enact a law to that effect,” he stated.
