TWO men were air-dashed to Georgetown from Mahdia, Potaro, yesterday, suffering severe burns after the hose from a fuel tanker they were tending, ruptured and spewed gasolene that caused a fire. The explosive fireball developed at a business place around 10:00 h during which Royston Henry, 20, of Supply Mahaica, East Coast Demerara and Gopaul Basmattie, 24, of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo were severely burnt.
The men suffered the injuries in the blaze at R&R Enterprises, next door to where the unforgettable early July blaze destroyed 25 buildings and left 150 people homeless.
They were flown to Ogle Airstrip by Air Services Limited (ASL) and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) by Ambulance about 15:00 h.
The condition of the victims, who were first treated at Mahdia Hospital, was described as stable last night as they receive special attention in the GPHC’s Burns Care Unit.
Reports from the accident scene said quick action by the fuel tender operator and frantic firefighting by volunteers, spurred by memories of the recent disaster, resulted in the conflagration being put out and restricting the damage to the walls and the ceiling of the building on the premises.
The flames had caused some anxious moments as the tanker was fully loaded and could have resulted in a catastrophe.
One relieved resident declared it was a narrow escape, noting that, unlike in July, water was available.
The hose from the tanker had been extended from the vehicle parked on the roadway to the back of the business place to fill a container when it developed a puncture and the spilled gasolene ignited a lit gas stove in a nearby kitchen, resulting in a loud explosion and a big ball of fire floating into a house ceiling.
The driver jumped into the tanker and drove it from the scene, pulling the leaking hose behind and safely away from the building, in which fire extinguishers were also employed.
Police are investigating the incident which brought back, to Mahdia residents, disturbing memories of the July inferno which raged uncontrolled leaving behind a swath of destruction in the then populated business area known as Vendors’ Arcade.
Up to yesterday, 35 of those who lost their homes then were still being housed in accommodation provided by the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Eight (Potaro/Siparuni) and supplied with meals.
The victims’ number has reduced because others have found employment and are now fending for themselves.
However, rebuilding of the Vendors’ Arcade as well as the establishment of a new housing scheme is being dealt with by the Ministry of Housing and the Department of Lands and Surveys.