2 injured in gas bottle explosion in Sophia

… Massy says regulator was faulty

Two individuals were injured in a flash explosion at a residence in C Field, Sophia, early Thursday morning. Massy Gas Products Guyana Ltd has confirmed that the incident was caused by a faulty, non-recommended regulator.
According to the company, a technical response team visited the property at Lot 121 C Field Sophia at 14:20h to conduct an on-site assessment in the presence of the customer, King Jarod, who is the brother of one of the injured parties. The injured individuals were not present during the inspection.
Preliminary findings by Massy Gas revealed that the LPG cylinder involved showed no evidence of leaks and that its rubber seal was intact. The cylinder, purchased approximately two days prior from a nearby dealer, was nearly full. However, a non-recommended regulator had been installed, Massy said, and the regulator was found to be defective, releasing gas even when in the OFF position, which directly caused the flash explosion.
The incident was reportedly not reported to the Guyana Fire Service. As part of its immediate response, Massy Gas replaced the unsafe regulator with a recommended Kosan regulator, along with a new hose and clips, ensuring the installation met safety standards. The company stressed the importance of using only approved regulators and fittings that meet established safety standards. Customers are urged to regularly inspect their equipment and to always use recommended Kosan regulators, hoses, and clips to minimise the risk of accidents.
The company also reminded the public to immediately report any suspected gas leaks, unusual odours, or faulty equipment to its emergency hotline at 592-600-0839, and to notify the Guyana Fire Service if an incident occurs.
In January, Basmattie Ganpat, 55, who suffered severe burns in a gas explosion at her Foulis, East Coast Demerara (ECD) home on January 4, passed away at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).
Ganpat, who sustained burns to 80 per cent of her body, had been fighting for her life for two weeks.
Her common-law partner, 58-year-old Manu Sukhu, who was also injured in the explosion and suffered burns to 68 per cent of his body, died days after her.
After that incident, several other non-lethal explosions occurred in a series of incidents.
In February, in light of several incidents involving cooking gas cylinders, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS), Guyana Fire Service (GFS), Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission (CCAC), and the Ministry of Labour’s Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Department met several times to investigate the incidents involving cooking gas cylinders.
The group examined interim reports from the respective agencies and agreed to conduct further detailed investigations at the retailer and consumer levels, including matters related to transportation, storage, and use of the cylinders.
As part of the investigation, the agencies had recognised the importance of sensitising the public on the safe transportation, handling, storage, installation, and use of cooking gas cylinders.