Explosion rocks Woodbrook

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A MASSIVE explosion at the National Flour Mills (NFM) rocked Woodbrook and environs last night, sending scores of heavily-armed policemen and fire service personnel into action at the Wrightson Road compound. Two employees of NFM were badly burnt and were listed in a critical condition at the St Clair Medical Complex last night. They were identified as Wendell Blenman, 36, Utility Attendant of George Street, Ste Madeline; and Sunil Persad, 30, Preparations Technician, of Munroe Road, Cunupia. Two others were also taken for medical treatment after they complained of feeling unwell. They were identified as Ann Marie Thorne, 32, of Union Road, Diego Martin, and Frederick Marcano, 38, of Dillon Street, Diego Martin. They were treated and discharged shortly before midnight.

According to reports, a powerful explosion rocked the NFM compound at Wrightson Road around 10 p.m. Fire was seen coming from the Edible Oil Complex, situated behind the John Donaldson Technical Institute. The explosion was so powerful that it shook buildings around Woodbrook and environs. It was even heard in downtown Port-of-Spain. The explosion reminded many of the explosion which destroyed Police Headquarters on the afternoon of July 27, 1990. Within minutes of the explosion, heavily-armed policemen of the Guard and Emergency Branch (GEB) as well as E-999 and CID officers responded  to reports of the explosion. As one Woodbrook resident put it, the number of policemen entering the NFM compound “gave us the impression that a bomb had exploded.” Residents turned out wondering what had happened.

But very soon that theory came to nought as the GEB personnel left the area. Firemen from Fire Services Headquarters and the Belmont sub-station responded, with appliances from Four Roads and Woodbrook on standby. An ambulance from the Fire Services also responded and called for back-up from the EHS. When firemen arrived on the scene, they quickly extinguished the blaze and found the two badly-burnt employees writhing in pain. The paramedics were able to calm the two badly-burnt workers, before one fell into unconsciousness. The paramedics rushed the injured to St Clair because the Port-of-Spain General Hospital was unable to treat the injuries which were so severe, that all their skin from head to toe was burnt. Reports revealed that an attempt will be made today to fly them out to Miami for treatment. Preliminary investigations revealed that a gas leak inside the Edible Oil Complex caused the explosion.

Following the explosion, a number of NFM officials including acting CEO Sheldon Cyrus, Communications Manager Donna Cox, and Franklyn Daharu, General Manager (Manufacturing), visited the scene to assess the situation. After the inspection, Daharu told the media that two plants were seriously affected and there was substantial damage to the premises. However, he could not give an estimate of the damage, neither give a reason for the explosion. But he did confirm that the Edible Oil Complex would remain closed today as investigations continue. He said the company would offer counselling to the workers who were present on the 3-11 p.m. shift yesterday. Daharu said while the Edible Oil Complex would be locked down today, the other parts of the company, the feed and flour mills will be in operation.