Gas bottle explosion injures two at Mondo Organics, West End
July 23, 2008 07:51pm
TWO men have suffered serious burns in a gas explosion at a Brisbane West End restaurant. The incident happened at a Hardgrave Rd business.
The two staff are believed to be a chef and a kitchenhand. The pair smelled gas in the kitchen that opens to the street shortly before the explosion which knocked them off their feet.
Neil Shaw was working at a neighbouring bottleshop and said one of the men ran into the street screaming.
"The walls shook and the next thing we know there's flames licking the sidewalk and a man out in the street yelling he was burnt," Mr Shaw said.
The men were taken to Royal Brisbane Hospital in a stable condition with burns to the torso, hands and arms.
Roma St fire station officer David Sutch said the explosion could have been a lot worse.
"Luckily we got there quickly and got it under control," he said. "Because it occurred early in the night the restaurant wasn't busy and there weren't as many staff in the kitchen as there would be later.
"The gas was still leaking when we got there but if the bottle itself had exploded there could have been some serious injuries."
It is believed there were two diners in the restaurant at the time.
The blaze was contained to the kitchen but the restaurant suffered extensive water damage. The street was blocked for several hours.
Source: Courier MailThis is by no means an isolated incident, on 17/6/08 an Eagle Boys pizza shopped was damaged in an explosion believed to be caused by leaking gas. Additionally on the 9/6/08 a gas explosion at a gas plant in WA led to a 30% reduction in gas output for the entire state.
Training in responding to internal emergencies, such as gas leak, can lessen the incidence of death and injury. Also knowing that a gas fire/ leak is best handled by switching off the gas main.
