2 Confirmed Dead In Ebonyi Catering School Gas Explosion

The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital (AE-FETHA), Abakaliki, Prof. Robinson Onoh, has confirmed the death of two of the 10 hospitalised victims of Friday’s gas explosion, which occurred at Good Shepherd Catering School in Orokeonuoha community, Ebonyi local government area of Ebonyi State.

10 female students were hospitalised at the tertiary hospital following the explosion, which was said to be triggered by a phone in the kitchen section of the school.

Dr. Onoh said two of the 10 victims succumbed to their injuries sustained in the gas explosion and eventually died.

“Both nurses, plastic surgeons, anaesthetist team, internal medicine and respiratory team and management are on ground to do the needful.

“We lost two already; one on arrival and yesterday, October 19, we lost another, making it two deaths.

“Our team is on ground to make sure we do not lose another person,” the CMD said.

Onoh revealed that inhalation and saver dressing foam were the major challenges in the treatment of the victims.

“Inhalation is as a result of accumulation of smoke from burns; it is part of the burns affecting their breathing; we have been able to separate them.

“The saver dressing foam reduces frequency of dressing and healing process faster.

“The inhalation is a big challenge; burns can be managed but once there is an inhalational component, it becomes a problem.

“Saver dressing foam is quite expensive; it is not available here; we had to get this from Enugu State.

“We hope to get more; we do not want to use a particular one which could cause infection and pains affect healing,” Prof. Onoh added.