After of promenade explosion

THE NORTH-WEST Regional Health Authority (NWRHA) revealed yesterday that ten persons were treated for injuries as a result of the stove which exploded at the Brian Lara Promenade between Independence Square and Charlotte Street, Port-of-Spain on Thursday afternoon.

NWRHA corporate communications manager Danielle Jones, said of the ten injured, five remain warded at hospital and two of the five are teenagers. She said one of the teenagers sustained an eye injury.

Yesterday, police probing the explosion revealed a makeshift gas tank was seized from the scene of the explosion.The tank is believed to have been connected to an LPG gas tank which was then connected to a stove used for roasting nuts.

Fire Service officers believe the makeshift tank developed a leak, causing the stove to burst into flames and an explosion to occur.

Nuts vendor Arnim Atwell sustained facial lacerations while Lisa King, Anisha David and Crystal Persad sustained cuts and burns. The other victims were not identified up to yesterday.

Police told Newsday they were trying to determine if negligence was a factor in the incident which caused injury to innocent bystanders.

They said as a result of Thursday’s explosion, a decision has been taken to rid the city of illegal vending.

Checks yesterday with the Port-of-Spain General Hospital revealed that the five victims warded were in stable condition.