No fewer than two persons have been feared dead and several others injured following an explosion at a filling station in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The inferno broke out while welders were working on one of the fuel tankers at Sobaz filling station, opposite Timber Market, a source in the community, who preferred anonymity, told Peoples Gazette.

“Perhaps they didn’t wash the tank very well before welding, that’s why it exploded,” the source said.

Local media reports say that four persons died from the incident.

Timothy Iwuagwu, spokesman of the Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria, told the Gazette that wielding a tanker whether empty or not, is dangerous and could kill the welder and people around

Mr. Iwuagwu suggested that manholes of petrol tankers should be opened for at least 48 hours or more, and filled with water, before welding.

“A tanker or container, whether it is containing liquid volatile organic materials or used to be a container of such, remains dangerous without carrying out some precautionary measures which includes opening the manhole to be well ventilated for at least 48hours”, Mr. Iwuagwu said.

Three weeks ago, dozens of people were injured along airport road in Rumuodomaya in Rivers after a gas explosion in Adros Gas Plant. The state government has since sealed off the gas station.

The Gazette in January reported that gas exploded and killed at least five people, with several others injured in neighbouring Delta State, barely 24-hours after a petrol tanker exploded while at a high speed in Abeokuta, killing at least three people. Several properties were damaged, the Gazette learnt.