A strong explosion of several domestic gas cylinders (LPG cylinders) was recorded this Friday at noon in the El Chuchango sector, in the center of the city of San Carlos, capital of the Cojedes state. The incident occurred while a community council was carrying out a gas distribution day to the residents of the community, reports the regional press.
According to witnesses and videos circulating on social networks, the detonations generated an intense column of smoke and flames visible from various points in the city. The cylinders, which had been previously collected for filling by a state company, exploded in the middle of a public road during the delivery process.
Officials from the Cojedes Fire Department quickly went to the scene, controlled the fire and extinguished the flames. So far there is no definitive official balance, but one injured person and significant material damage are reported, with cylinders scattered on the street and damage in the surrounding area. No fatalities have been confirmed.
The event generated alarm among the residents of San Carlos, who heard the explosions several blocks away. Local authorities and Civil Protection began investigations to determine the exact causes, although preliminarily they point to an accident during the handling of the cylinders, a recurring problem in Venezuela due to the conditions of the cylinders and the controlled distribution system.
This is the latest of several similar incidents reported in the country in recent months involving domestic gas.
