SMALL businesses operating at Chipadze Home Industry in Bindura have lost property worth thousands of US dollars after a fire gutted four shops following a gas explosion Tuesday afternoon. The fire occurred when an LPG gas retailer was in the process of refilling a gas cylinder. The incident left one person injured after sustaining burns on the chest and legs, while four shops were razed down. Mechanics and hardware retailers housed at the complex have been left counting their losses.
“I don’t even know where to start. I had engines in my shop, gearboxes and several other parts from people’s cars since the cars were undergoing repairs while some had been left for safekeeping,” said one of the mechanics.
Another added, “The man who works in the shop we share just came out shouting, ‘Fire!’ and people did not even take him seriously and then he went back inside. That’s when we realised there was a fire. He came out again and said he had forgotten his phone, but we stopped him as he was at the door. Just then there was an explosion and a burst of flames burnt him.”
In a telephone interview, Mashonaland Central Environmental Management Agency Publicity Officer, Maxwell Mupotsa said the unfortunate incident occurred when the agency had been raising awareness on the safe use of LPG gas and conducting a blitz on unlicenced gas retailers. The incident occurred a few days after close to 100 unlicensed gas retailers were fined while some outlets were shut down for failing to meet regulations on LP gas wholesale and retail.
Source ZBC News
