3 more victims of Jeddah gas explosion die

Abdulrahman Al-Ali
Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — The death toll in a gas cylinder explosion at a restaurant in Jeddah rose to five on Wednesday after three more victims succumbed to their injuries. The blast, which happened in Al-Wazereya district in South Jeddah on Sunday, injured 19 others and destroyed the restaurant.

The victims are Ali Mahdi Ali, 23, who suffered burns to 80 percent of his body, Mutaz Hamed Al-Sulami, 20, who suffered burns to 40 percent of his body and Khaled Saeed Al-Amri, 12, who suffered burns to 60 percent of his body.

On Tuesday, two victims died as a result of their injuries. The two victims were Abdullah Al-Harthi and Ahmad Al-Shamrani. Al-Harthi, 25, suffered burns to 100 percent of his body while Al-Shamrani, 57, suffered burns to 80 percent of his body.

Lt. Col. Ali Al-Montashari, Director of Investigation and Media Spokesman at the General Directorate of Civil Defense in Makkah, said stores selling gas cylinders are monitored to ensure that the equipment they use is safe. He added that offenders are penalized and fined.

He urged people to inspect their gas cylinders annually and said storing cylinders in restaurants for later use was illegal.