No fewer than 201 residents of Sharada Quarters in Kano State have been hospitalized for inhaling chemicals from a cylinder dismantled by metal scrappers in the state.
The victims have been rushed to the Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital, Sharada Industrial Hospital and Ja’en Hospital for medical attention.
Nuradeen Abdullahi, the Territorial Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency in Kano, who confirmed the incident in Kano on Saturday explained that the cylinder chemical explosion occurred on Friday at about 4:00pm, at Sharada Industrial Area.
He further explained, “The victims were suffocated and unconscious.”
He added that the victims collapsed and became unconscious after inhaling toxic substances from the cylinder dismantled by some metal scrappers.
The Territorial Coordinator explained that the chemicals contained in the cylinder escaped into the air, therefore, made those who inhaled it become unconscious.
Dr Hussaini Muhammad, the Chief Medical Director of Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital, stated that they received over 70 victims, saying that 65 were now in stable condition.
He added that thirty-five victims received treatment at Sharada Industrial Hospital and 96 at Ja’en Hospital.
Hajiya Sadiya Faruk, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, had visited the victims at the hospital to see their situations.
She was Represented by Dr Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, the Humanitarian Affairs Permanent Secretary.
She hailed the managements of the hospitals, NEMA, SEMA and the Nigerian Red Cross, for their prompt response and support to the victims during the incident.
She assured that the ministry would support the victims.
