An underground gas pocket exploded at a Sixth Avenue, Diamond, East Bank Demerara residence on Thursday evening when construction workers were drilling a hole for “domestic” purposes.
According to reports received, the incident occurred at about 17:30h at Lot 1200 Section A, Block X, Great Diamond.
INews was told that the owner of the house was drilling a hole for “domestic use” (reportedly a well) when the workers hit the gas pocket causing the explosion.
The family was immediately ordered to vacate the property, but they returned later and were seen talking to officials from the Fire Service and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission.
According to residents in the are, the gas was spraying as high as 200 feet into the air for about an hour and a half.
“After the gas stopped, a water and mud mixture started shooting up, but it stopped for like a 15 minutes and was barely spewing up. Then this thick mud substance start shooting up,” one resident said.
When this online publication visited the scene, the murky substance was spraying about 20 to 30 feet into the air.
As the spillage continued late into the night and early into Friday morning, a shed attached to the house was torn down and the building began shaking heavily.
As news of the incident spread, persons from the area began flocking the scene, with some complaining that the explosion was heard from some distance.
The yard has since been cordoned off and is being monitored by the authorities.
The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) has since confirmed the presence of Methane gas, which is flammable and as such, a request has been made that residents desist from lighting matches, stoves, etc.
According to officers at the scene, “the gas hasn’t risen to the extent that it will affect people’s breathing. However, if it comes to that, the residents will have to vacate the area.”
The Guyana Power and Light (GPL) has been directed to cut power in the area.
See more photos below:
