How gas explosion claimed 4 lives in my household — Survivor

•A domestic gas explosion victim, Dr. Onyemaechi Nwagbo. 

A staff of the National Veterinary Research Institute, Dr. Onyemaechi Nwagbo, yesterday, recounted how a domestic gas explosion claimed the lives of four members of his household at Umuokalu Orba in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State.

Nwagbo, who sustained severe burns from the explosion, said that he lost two daughters studying Medical courses at the Madonna University, Rivers State, his wife and a stepson.

He explained that the incident happened at about 8:30 in the morning, when his late daughter, Mmesomma, lit their cooking gas, while trying to fry yam for breakfast.

He explained that when the deceased noticed leakage from the gas cylinder, she turned the light off and covered the cylinder with a bucket. However, he said the leaking gas magnated fire from a charcoal stove outside the house and set the house on fire.

“I was in my room that fateful day and, suddenly, I heard a sound. I rushed out to the corridor to put off the power lines because I thought it was an electrical issue, but the noise continued. So, when I got to the kitchen, I discovered that Mmesomma Nwagbo, my 20-year-old daughter, was using a bucket to cover the gas cylinder.

“We thought that the fire was under control. Unfortunately, the leaked gas got outside and connected with a burning charcoal stove outside the house, and fire came from there. Within two seconds, we were all burnt. We ran helter-skelter and amid that confusion and pain; we found ourselves outside the house and, by that time, we were all naked.

“I rushed back into the house and picked a baby, who was sleeping, and handed him to the people around.

“Those who were alerted by our alarm organized a bus and took us to the Emergency Unit of the Bishop Shanahan Hospital in Nsukka metropolis where we received treatment. This happened on Wednesday, 18th April 2022. Surprisingly, in the early hours of Thursday, I got the news that Mmesomma has died.

“When the day broke that Thursday, we were referred to the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu, unfortunately, all the people I went with died.

“Apart from Mmesomma, I also lost my wife, Nkiru, my 22-year-old daughter, Ebubechukwu Nwagbo, and a stepson, Ifeanyichukwu Eze.

“The explosion is still mysterious to me even now. In a broad daylight, a domestic gas explosion took almost the lives of my entire household.

“The Enugu State Government had helped because it took care of some of the medical bills. Even my office where I work paid some bills for me too.

“Their corpses have not been buried because my family is still waiting for my recovery. I would welcome government's assistance. I am an ordinary human being and it has not been easy for me. The pain of acute burns is not equally easy to bear, but in every situation, I give God the glory.

“The two of my daughters who lost their lives were in 300 level, Madonna University, Rivers State. Ebubechukwu was studying Medical Optometry, while Mmesomma was studying Medical Laboratory Technology. Ifeanyichukwu was in primary 3,” he explained.

Culled from Vanguard