Worker killed in Point Lisas explosion

Dead is Dale Paul, 32, of Cedar Hill Road, Claxton Bay.

The explosion occurred around 4.35 pm, on the International Steel Group (ISG) facility, Point Lisas.

A police report stated that when the explosion ripped through the seventh floor of the plant, employees were burnt about their bodies.

Paul was working with Zainool Hosein, 34, of Harris Village South Oropouche; Gregory Phillip, 40, of Diamond Village, Claxton Bay; and Marius Grant, 31, also of Cedar Hill Road, Claxton Bay. Paul and the men, all employees of Weldfab Contractors Ltd, Claxton Bay, were immediately rushed to the Augustus Long Hospital, Pointe-a-Pierre.

Paul, who received second-degree burns to 90 percent of his body, was later transferred to the San Fernando General Hospital. He died hours later.

The ISG’s in-house fire brigade and appliances from the Couva Fire Station contained the blaze. The three injured men remained warded at the Augustus Long Hospital up to yesterday. Police said the men suffered first-degree burns. When Newsday visited the Paul residence at Cedar Hill Road, his family was too distraught to speak to the media. Several employees of Weldfab Contractors Ltd were at the home.

Paul’s brother, Sheldon, described his brother's death as "shocking." He said his family could not accept the news of Paul's death. An ISG spokesperson said yesterday that a statement on the incident would be issued to the media.