Tragedy: 6 yr-old-boy Killed, 15 Escape Death After Inhaling Generator’s Fume

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Sunday, July 27th, 2014

Ignatius Okpara, Aba

Tragedy struck on Saturday in Aba, the commercial nerve centre of Abia state, as about 15 persons suffocated after inhaling a generator fume at the end of an inter-denominational night vigil service at Young Peoples Christian Fellowship in the city.

It was gathered that the victims had ended the vigil and fell asleep with the generating set still running at the corridor.

An eyewitness told African Examiner that out of the 16 persons who were at the vigil, 15 were rushed to receive treatment at various hospitals, while a 6-year-old boy died on the spot before police could gain entrance into the place.

Speaking with newsmen the, Medical Director of Austin Grace Hospitals, Dr. Mark Iwuagwu confirmed that the incident happened “as a result of carbon mono-oxide poison they inhaled from a generator set outside the hall where the vigil was held.”

He continued: “When I was invited to the place by the police, the generator used as their source of power supply was still on, but the glasses to the hall were all locked. It was police that came and opened the place with metal equipment

“It was one of the victim’s brothers that alerted the police after efforts to reach his sister he took to the fellowship failed to yield positive result.”

The General- Secretary of pastors from Arochukwu, Dr. Phillip Richard who is also the Senior Pastor Word Alive Assembly, Aba also confirmed that the victims were all from Ututu community in Arochukwu.

He explained that: “they finished the night vigil and probably left the generator on to use the light for the fans while they were sleeping may be to also chase away mosquitoes not knowing that such a thing is going to happen.”

“I was not there but I had a phone call telling me this morning that the believers from Ututu in Arochukwu who went to pray in a church in Aba had all died.

“I left all that I was doing to get to the scene of the event. We have a fellowship of believers of Ututu origin in Aba and they came to pray for themselves and their community at this venue.

“But I was not there. They are from various churches and not from one church. The husband and wife whose child died are from my own church,”