A family of three has tragically died following a gas explosion at their residence in Warri, Delta State.

The Guardian learnt that the incident occurred on May 30, 2025, as the family was preparing for their daughter?s birthday celebration.

Sources indicated that the father was installing a burner on a small gas cylinder while another cooker nearby was already in use. Gas leakage from the smaller cylinder reportedly ignited a fire from the other flame, triggering a devastating explosion.

The father succumbed to injuries shortly after the blast. The mother, who had just exited the bathroom, suffered critical burns and was rushed to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), where she later died.

Their daughter, who had recently obtained a visa and was set to travel abroad, also sustained severe burns. She died on June 14, 2025, at the same hospital.

An engineer, John Perede Akpoyibo, who reported the incident, attributed the explosion to the use of multiple gas cylinders in a confined space and the absence of safety equipment such as gas leak detectors and fire extinguishers.

He urged households to avoid using more than one cylinder in enclosed spaces, ensure adequate ventilation, and extinguish all flames when handling gas. Akpoyibo also called for increased community awareness on gas safety to avert similar disasters in the future. (The Guardian).

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