2 injured in Abuja refuse dump explosion

Two refuse evacuators were reportedly injured Wednesday when an over heated metal refuse bin exposed at Maitama district of Abuja.

Daily Trust reports that the incident occurred around 11: 45 am near a refuse dump outside the Bureau of Public Enterprise premises in Maitama.

Our correspondent reports that the explosion initially caused panic among the people of the area as they thought it was a bomb that exploded.

SP Josephine Adeh, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer confirmed the explosion in a terse statement released on the incident.

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She said a rapid response team and members of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit of the command was deployed to assess the situation and preliminary findings indicate that an overheated metal refuse container activated under intense heat, exploded, thereby causing injury to two of the refuse evacuators, who are currently receiving medical attention in Maitama General Hospital.

The statement urges members of the public to exercise caution and refrain from using metal refuse bins. ‘’Instead, we recommend the use of plastic or rubber containers for waste disposal, as they pose a reduced risk of incidents related to overheated metal refuse container,’’ the statement read in part.

The spokesperson of the FCT Emergency Management Agency also confirmed the incident, saying ‘’Good afternoon, yes there was an explosion. No casualties FEMA was there. The FCT police are looking into it. It occurred at dump site,’’ while responding to enquiries on the incident.