Another Tanker Explode in Jos as 100 are Confirmed Dead (Photos)

At least eight persons have been confirmed dead and over 100 others rendered un­conscious as a result of chemical leakage from a cylinder explosion at the Lamingo Plateau Water Board Treatment Plant Jos, the Plateau State capital.
Information gathered re­vealed that the leakage which occurred early Saturday morning affected persons liv­ing close to the plant. Most of them were discovered by other neighbours who raised alarm, attracting other persons and security personnel who began moving the victims to the nearby hospitals; including the Plateau Specialists Hospi­tal. Some were revived while eight who were seriously af­fected were confirmed dead.
Police Public Relations Of­ficer (PPRO), DSP Emmanuel Abu who confirmed the inci­dent said the treatment plant had been cordoned off while management of the plant has been advised to take necessary precautionary steps.
He said a number of per­sons had been injured in the explosion and were presently receiving treatment at the Pla­teau Specialist Hospital.
According to him, “Our anti-bomb squad took control of the area and they evacuated the affected persons to the hos­pital.
Sadly, five persons died in the hospital while others are receiving treatment,” Meanwhile, a press state­ment issued by the Director, Press and Public Affairs to the governor, Samuel Emmanuel Nanle, gave the dead toll as eight and put the number re­ceiving treatment as 101.
He explained that the inci­dent was caused by an excess chlorine inhalation from an exploded chlorine cylinder by residents around the Lamingo Water Board Treatment Plant.
He said most of the affected people were receiving treat­ment at Our Lady of Apostle (OLA) Hospital, Evangel Hospital (Jankwano), Plateau Specialist Hospital as well as Air force Hospital.
He said some of them have been dis­charged but eight have been confirmed dead as a result of the inhalation of the contami­nated air.
He also allayed fear over the safety of the water being supplied to the public; saying the contamination has been contained and does not affect the water which has been sup­plied to the public.
‘Water from the public mains is safe for consumption and is not affected in anyway by the ar­iel contamination of chlorine from the exploded cylinder.
Nanle added that ‘govern­ment wishes to commiserate with the families of the vic­tims of this industrial hazard and has taken immediate measures to address the issues of expired components of the treatment plant and to guard against future reoccurrence of the unfortunate incidence.
Meanwhile, people have besieged the Plateau Special­ist Hospital to identify their relatives who are either killed or injured as a result of the leakage.