One dies, truck, houses razed as explosion rocks ?illegal refinery? in Kano

One person was killed while several others were injured following an explosion at an ‘illegal refinery’ in Kano State. 

It was gathered that the incident happened in the Katango area of Wailari, Kumbotso Local Government Area in the state, at about 9:05am on Monday, January 8, 2024. 

About five houses around the area and a truck were also razed in the inferno.

It took about three hours for the men of the Kano State Fire Service, National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, and fire workers from Salbas Petrol Station to bring the fire under control.

The victim, identified as Aminu, the driver of the truck, was burnt beyond recognition at the site.

An eyewitness, Ahmad Gaya, who is a personnel of the Vehicle Inspection Office, VIO, told newsmen that he was on duty along the road when he heard an explosion and looked around and saw raging fire.

“I immediately called the attention of the Kano Fire Service and directed them to the location. The place, which is located amid residential houses at Katango in Wailari, is used to stock scraps of trucks and trailers and also to refine used engine oil for other purposes,” Gaya said. 

“No one can tell what exactly happened that led to the explosion. The trailer carrying drums of the used engine oil was gutted by the fire in which the driver was trapped and burned beyond recognition,”

Close to the location were residential houses with women and children, and about five houses were gutted by the inferno.

“An old lady who could not walk was rescued from one of the houses. Two kids were also rescued from another house when their mother ran out and left them inside, all through the efforts of onlookers. The fire took about three hours before it was put out,” he explained.