1 dead, another injured in explosion at Houston Ice Plant
One man is now dead and another critical following a late morning explosion at an ice plant located at the Houston Wharf, Greater Georgetown.
The incident reportedly occurred around 10:30h at BM Enterprise, in Houston, which sells ice to fishermen.
Dead: Carlton Meghan
The dead man has been identified as Carlton Meghan. He is said to be the brother of the company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Geer Meghan. The now dead man, said to be in his 50s, reportedly sustained a gash to his throat, which almost severed his head, as well as broken limbs. Parts of his body were also burnt from the blast.
Meanwhile, the man in critical condition at the Georgetown Public Hospital— an employee –reportedly suffered severe burns about his body.
According to reports reaching Guyana Times, the two men were in the upper flat of a three-storey structure, conducting repairs on the ice plant compressor when the explosion occurred.
This newspaper was told that during the repairs, the men turned on the compressor to test it, when it exploded, blowing out the zinc walls on the second floor of the structure and throwing Meghan through the zinc wall on the top-storey onto the wharf.
The building from which the now dead man fell
Divisional Officer of the Guyana Fire Service (GFS), Compton Sparman explained to reporters at the scene that there was gas in the atmosphere and so when the men started welding, it caused the explosion.
“They were doing welding … and apparently the gas was in the atmosphere with the heat and there was an explosion and the person who actually was doing the job fell and broke his neck and he got some minor burns,” he pointed.
At the scene, Meghan’s body was covered and remained there until Police investigators arrived. When the covering was removing, the gaping wound to his throat and burn marks about his body were revealed.
The wife of Carlton Meghan being consoled by relatives
In the meantime, family and friends of the now dead man rushed to the scene and were inconsolable upon learning of his tragic death. His distraught wife was also at the scene and had to be comforted by relatives.
One of the nephews related that he was at Parika, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) when he received the dreaded call and rushed to the Houston ice plant, where he saw Meghan’s lifeless body lying there.
He noted that it appeared as though during the blast, a propeller from one of the equipment broke and slashed Meghan’s throat, almost severing it. This gash, he believes, caused his uncle to fall through the zinc wall; hence, sustaining broken limbs.
“Watching the area, it looked like the propeller piece cut his neck… and when it hit him, he fall through,” the nephew noted.
A post-mortem examination is expected to be conducted on the body of Meghan today. The investigation into the incident continues.
