Sharjah: Two men sustained moderate injuries after a gas cylinder exploded in the kitchen of their fourth floor apartment in the Al Butaina area of Sharjah.
Colonel Sami Khamis Al Naqbi, Director General of Sharjah Civil Defence, told Gulf News that police received a call on Monday at around 4.30am reporting the incident.
A police team and civil defence team controlled the fire after arriving at the scene.
The injured men were taken to Al Kuwaiti hospital and Al Qassimi hospital where they received treatment before being discharged from hospital.
Col. Al Naqabi said initial investigations revealed that the gas explosion occurred due to a stove gas leak.
Al Gharb police station is investigating the incident .
Users of cooking gas cylinders must exercise extra caution, not only while using them, but even from the time they are purchased.
Proper storage, authorised accessories and sufficient preparation for emergencies are equally critical in order to avoid accidents.
Col. Al Naqbi explained that the cooking gas in the unit consists of a mixture of a propane and butane, .
When it mixes with a percentage of oxygen in the atmosphere and the unit is sealed, it becomes dangerous and potentially inflammable, he explained, if there is a spark — as what happened in this incident.
Colonel Al Naqbi urged residents to follow safety instructions for storage and use of gas cylinders.
He also urged residents to keep gas cylinders away from sunlight or heat and away from the stove.
Regular checks for structural damage and leaks, placing cylinders in an upright position, and keeping them in a well-ventilated and covered area are also important, he said.
Precautions
Col. Al Naqbi's safety tips for using gas cylinder...
* Always purchase gas cylinders and accessories from only authorised gas distributors.
* For cylinder replacement or maintenance, check if the contracting company is authorised by the Civil Defence.
* Check the cylinder validity date.
* Ensure proper ventilation in the kitchen and do not expose the cylinder directly to the sun and heat sources. When kept outside, the cylinders should be placed in a cabinet that has wire mesh provided at the bottom in order to allow liquefied petroleum gas to escape in case of leakage.
* Keep fire extinguisher and fire blanket handy in your house for emergencies and also be trained to use them.
* Install smoke and gas detectors in your home.
* Do not use lighter or match to check gas leak, use soap solution instead.
* Do not place the cylinder close to electrical sockets or flammable substances.
* Never leave stoves unattended while in use.
* Do not allow children to operate gas appliances.
* Ensure the gas valve/regulator is closed before leaving the house or before sleeping
* Do not connect more than one cylinder to one cooking appliance.
* Inspect stove and gas connections regularly and replace in case of damage.
* In case of gas leakage, dial 997/999.
