No fewer than three persons died in a gas explosion that destroyed a section of a vegetable oil and bottled water production company in Orlu, Imo State. Two other persons were reportedly injured. It was gathered that the victims of the early morning explosion were employees of the company, Sea Master Industries Limited at Amaifeke in Orlu Local Government Area of the state. The cause of the explosion was yet to be ascertained, but it was gathered that the gas tank of the company exploded in the early hours of Tuesday, while production was in progress. The impact of the explosion, according to sources, shattered glasses and screens in the surrounding buildings. A top management staff of the company, who pleaded anonymity, described the incident as sad and unfortunate, explaining that the members of staff, who died in the blast were on routine maintenance services on top of the gas tank cleaning and opening blockages from the nozzles, when the explosion occurred. The injured workers were said to be receiving treatment at the Imo State University Teaching Hospital, Orlu.
