Trinmar off-shore gas-line explodes

A MID-AFTERNOON gas-line explosion at a Trinmar off-shore platform in the Gulf of Paria left one man in critical condition and four others seriously injured yesterday. Last night, doctors at the Southern Medical Centre were fighting to save the life of 55-year-old Kenneth Morique, who suffered extensive head injuries. The other victims were identified as Ron Alexander, 28, Clarence Ramroop, Anthony Chinafat and Randy Anthony, 21. They suffered internal/spinal injuries and broken limbs. The five workers, who are employed with Valve Components Ltd, (Valcom) were working on the off-shore platform yesterday morning in and around a high pressure gas valve, at Block Station 16 (North) in the Soldado Field. The valve reportedly exploded around 1.55 pm, leaving the five men grimacing in pain.

According to a release from Petrotrin, 12 persons were involved in the accident, seven of whom were not seriously affected, but experienced some degree of gas inhalation. A sailor working on the emergency response vessel “Gulf Star,” which took the injured men to the Trinmar base, told Newsday: “When we arrived, two men were lying on the ground. One looked like he had possible spinal injuries while the other had a broken left ankle. Another seemed to have internal injuries near his right hip.” “The most seriously injured man (Morique) had a hole in his forehead, and his skull was cut open. There was blood everywhere,” the sailor said. He added that when the injured men arrived at the Trinmar base, EHS medics were waiting to administer emergency treatment. 

The critically injured man was airlifted to San Fernando General Hospital, where he was treated and conveyed to the private nursing home. The other men were rushed to the medical centre via ambulances. Point Fortin and Trinmar Estate police are continuing investigations. Contacted for comment late yesterday, Petrotrin corporate communications officer, Arnold Corneal, would only confirm the explosion had happened after a high-pressure 25,000 per square inch (psi) gas valve ruptured. He also said the injured persons were suffering from various degrees of gas inhalation. He said an investigation into the explosion was underway. In the release, Petrotrin noted that, “ The valve has been locked off and the gas flow contained. “Block Station 16 has been evacuated. The relevant Government authorities have been notified.”