Three injured in Kandal TELA station explosion

Fri, 5 February 2016 ppp

Khouth Sophak Chakrya

The owner of a gas station in Kandal, his son and a technician were seriously injured on Wednesday when the pipes of a newly installed petrol-dispensing system exploded during a demonstration of how to properly use it.

According to police, Heng Ser, 54, the proprietor of a TELA gas station in Koki commune, and his son Heng Naty, 32, were being taught by 50-year-old Meas Pov how to transfer petrol from a tanker truck into the system, which the latter had just finished installing, when the explosion occurred at about 4pm.

“The four taps of the gas network exploded and the gas container next to the wall just exploded, which sounded like a grenade explosion,” said Prom Samnang, a Kean Svay district deputy police chief in charge of explosives, referring to a statement by a worker at the site.

“The explosion blew the concrete wall and pipe at the victims.”

Phath Sam Eth, Kien Svay district police chief, said the father and son were rushed to Cho Ray Hospital, in nearby Chbar Ampov district, while Pov was sent to Phnom Penh’s Calmette Hospital.

All three, he said, remained in serious condition.

“For this case, the authorities have not been able to get any testimony on the incident from the victims since they are still being treated in the ICU room at the moment,” Sam Eth said.