SULAIMANI (ESTA) — A gas cylinder explosion in Sulaimani left dozen people injured, kicking off a massive search-and-rescue operation Thursday, according to local authorities.
The incident rocked a three-story house in the Kaziwa neighborhood due to an LPG gas leakage where the owners of the house invited all of the family members for dinner.
Preliminary information suggested that more than twenty people were either believed to be killed or injured.
The significant blast resulted in a structural collapse of the house, Haval Abubakar, Sulaimani governor confirmed. Light smoke continued to rise from the structure around the evening hours.
A massive number of rescue teams responded to the scene after receiving reports of an explosion around 8:00 P.M, the governor added.
“We are supporting the active response to the incident and do not have further details to share at this time,” Abubakr said regarding the people who were trapped under the rubble. “As far as I know four people have died as the result.”
According to a relative of the house owner, more than twenty people were inside the house amid the incident, among whom children and elders were included.
Seven people were taken to hospitals, including all ages. The explosion impacted all nearby houses. Two other buildings were evacuated.
Residents told local news outlets they heard a massive blast, escaping their houses because they initially thought it might be an earthquake.
Kurdistan Region President Nechivan Barzani expressed his condolences in a tweet to the families of the dead and wished a speedy recovery for the injured.
In the meantime, Prime Minister Masrour Barzani ordered a probe into the incident, tasking the governor to “carry out a detailed and quick investigation.”
