Gas Cylinder Explosion Kills Two, Injures Several at Onitsha Plumbing Market

Scene of the explosion

A deadly gas cylinder explosion has claimed the lives of two individuals and injured several others at the Plumbing Market located along Uga Street, near the Bridge Head Market in Onitsha, Anambra State. The incident occurred on Friday, May 16, 2025, triggering panic as traders and customers scrambled for safety.

Eyewitnesses reported that the explosion happened while a welder was working with carbide on metal. The cylinder, used during the welding process, exploded unexpectedly, causing a powerful blast that shattered the bodies of the victims and sent debris flying across the market section.

Market leader Uzomah Eke confirmed the incident, stating, “Two persons died yesterday in our market at the plumbing section of the Bridge Head Market, Onitsha, as a result of a cylinder explosion. A welder was welding iron with carbide, and the gas cylinder suddenly exploded, killing two and injuring many others near the scene.”

He added that the force of the explosion caused chaos, with traders abandoning their goods and shops unlocked as they ran for safety. “It was a real tension because some body parts of the victims, which were shattered as a result of the explosion, littered the floor. Some traders did not lock up their shops. The explosion damaged goods and properties in several market sections,” Eke said.

Good Samaritans at the scene quickly mobilized to rescue the injured and transported them to nearby hospitals for medical attention, helping to contain the aftermath and limit further damage.

The spokesman for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident and stated that police operatives from the Onitsha Head Bridge Divisional Headquarters were on the scene. “Police operatives complemented the rescue efforts by good-spirited individuals on the six victims of a gas cylinder explosion at a plumbing market, along Uga Street, which regrettably recorded one death,” Ikenga said.

He further explained that preliminary investigations revealed the explosion was caused by excess heat exposure while the welder was working with the gas cylinder. “The six rescued victims are currently receiving treatment in the hospital, while the deceased has been deposited in a morgue,” Ikenga added.

In response, police have secured the affected area to prevent criminal elements from exploiting the chaotic situation. The Anambra State Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, expressed concern over the incident and issued a series of safety recommendations to prevent future occurrences. These include regular inspection and maintenance of gas cylinders, secure storage, and strict adherence to manufacturer safety instructions and operational guidelines.