ZOMBO: Baby amongst three involved  in serious house petrol accident

By Mike Rwothomio

Three people including a baby  are  suffering from  serious burns to their  whole bodies  after fumes from petrol they were storing in their semi-permanent   house was  ignited by a cooker.

The October 19 acutely distressing incident occurred at Otheko Parish, Paidha Sub-County, Zombo district.

The victims  that includes  a couple and their baby,  are all admitted in critical condition at Nebbi General Hospital.

One of the victims  has been identified as Alan Oyirwoth, a prominent gospel artist in west-Nile Sub-region.

This Publication has learnt that properties worth millions of shillings were lost in the semi-permanent structure.

In an interview with this Publication on his sickbed at Nebbi  General Hospital on October 22, Oyirwoth  with deep remorse  said,  the incident occurred at around 8:00PM, when he was decanting 20littres   petroleum  from a  Jerry can  to another.

” We had a 20-littre Jerry can of petrol in our house, , I was trying to pour the oil into another Jerry can , and you know their was a stove at a distance, but I  don’t even know how the fire was ignited but all of a sudden, the whole house was in flames”  Oyirwoth said.

He added that ” I immediately escaped but upon learning that my wife and the child was inside, I went back to rescue them when the whole house was in flames , we came out together , though I got injured , my wife and child  were badly injured and are in serious conditions, but we thank God for saving our lives” 

On the properties, He said ” I have learnt later that we lost all our properties in the house, even my phone that I can use to connect with people is gone” 

An eyewitness told this Publication that ” the fire started at a around 8:00 MP on Oct 22, and it caught all of us unaware”

An area LCI chairperson recounted that” we first rushed them to Otheko Health center III, but later they were referred to Nebbi General Hospital”

Paramedics from Nebbi General Hospital are working on the victims. Oyirwoth is out of danger, but the condition of his wife and the child remains critical.

The LCIII chairperson of Paidha Sub-County  William Okethi, advised locals to always  take extreme care when handling and storing petrol in their houses and garages.

The chairperson of Paidha Zombo Gospel Association Grison Openjmungu, called for prayers and financial  support to their member.

”  I see this is a trying moment. As always, we shall come together to see that we stand with him now and even afterwards. We have all been choked by it but as servants of God, we are continuing with prayers for him and the family. I urge that we all keep praying for them and thank you so much for bringing this in the news. This shows how together we are” Openjmungu, who visited the victims in Nebbi General Hospital on October 22, said in a statement.

Apparently, the Country is awashed with news of the October 22, 3:00 PM   fuel tanker explosion, that left 11 people dead,  in the suburb of Kigoogwa in the Capital Kampala’s  northern outskirts, along  Kampala- Gulu highway. Several people have sustained serious injuries and are received treatment in various health facilities.