Explosion kills 5, injures 50 in Jos

JOS, Nigeria Eight people were killed and around 100 needed hospital treatment after inhaling chlorine gas following an explosion at a water treatment plant in Jos, a city in central Nigeria, the state government said on Saturday.

“One hundred and one (101) people are receiving treatment at OLA Hospital, Evangel Hospital (Jankwano), Plateau Specialist Hospital and Airforce Hospital, some of which have been discharged”, the statement said.

At the hospitals, little children were seen with bloated abdomens, as other victims gasped for breath.

The accident has not affected the water supply in the area, the statement said, adding that water from the mains remained “safe for human consumption”.

Emmanuel Abu, spokesman of the police command in the state, confirmed the incident, saying the explosion occurred around 4am.

The PPRO also said that the treat ment plan had been cordoned off and the plants management was advised to put in place precautionary measures to secure the plant and avoid re-occurrence.

Meanwhile, Governor Simon Lalong has described as unfortunate the explosion from the Chlorine tank of the Plateau State Water Board Treatment plant while sympathising with the families of eight victims who lost their lives as a result of the excess Chlorine Inhalation from the explosion.

“We thought it was an attack from terrorists and so I opened the door to our room and started running”.