Muscat: The Civil Defense and Ambulance Authority (CDAA) reported a cooking gas explosion in a building that hosts a restaurant in the South Mabela area of Wilayat of Seeb.
18 people suffered light to moderate injuries and as search and rescue teams dealt with hazardous materials at the site, CDAA said buildings in the neighborhood and vehicles were affected.
According to Lieutenant Ali al Farsi of CDAA, “Cooking gas lead is the cause of the explosion resultant of an electric spark, which requires awareness regarding the use and dealing with gas cylinders and electrical connections. Around 7 am, we received a report of an explosion in a building in southern Mabela, and people were evacuated from the neighboring buildings. There were no deaths and 18 people were injured, including Omanis."
It may be noted that 31.2 percent of the 4,186 fire incidents reported in 2022 were in Muscat and 32.1 percent of these incidents involved household facilities.
According to experts, domestic LPG cylinders if not handled properly, can lead to disastrous and fatal consequences. It's almost impossible to have an LPG blast on its own without related factors.
Preventative measures to avoid LPG explosion
- Turning the stove and gas cylinder off when not in use.
- Checking the gas appliances on a regular basis.
- Checking the gas cylinder at the time of delivery.
- Taking preventive measures in the case of a gas leak.
- Open all the doors and windows of your house.
- Turn off the regulator on the cylinder, if it is not already turned off.
- Check the cylinder to find out if the regulator is rightly attached. If it is loose or is not fixed properly, release the lock and refix the regulator.
- Try to find out if there are any hissing or leaking noises.
- Avoid lighting cigarettes, matches, lighters, or any appliances.
- Do not turn on the stove or burner when the gas is leaking.
- Call for help immediately if the problem seems to persist.
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