Samarkand Issues Safety Warnings after Gas Explosion Kills Seven in Home

The Uzbek city of Samarkand is intensifying a home safety campaign following the death of seven people in what authorities call “a flash of a gas-air mixture” in a house last week. Emergency officials in the Samarkand region have said an investigation is underway into the explosion in the city on the night of May 8-9. “The kinetic impact of the flash caused the collapse of the reinforced concrete structures of the house, damaging the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd floors and the basement. There was no fire,” the regional emergency situations department said on Telegram. It reported six deaths, and several media outlets in Uzbekistan later reported a seventh death. The victims were found under the rubble. Since the accident, regional emergency officials have issued appeals to residents to not install non-standard gas cylinders on gas stoves and gas appliances. They are also advising people to take other safety measures, including not connecting gas cylinders to equipment using rubber hoses that can’t operate under specific pressure; regularly checking for gas leaks by using soapy water on cylinder connections and valves; and ensuring that flammable items are at least 10 meters away from gas cylinders. Following those rules “will prevent accidents that could happen to you and your loved ones!” the emergency situations department warned. In a separate incident on May 7, two people were killed and one was injured in an explosion at a gas station in the Katakurgan district of Samarkand region. A fire broke out during the fueling of two diesel fuel storage tanks, according to reports on UzDaily.com and other Uzbek media. The reports attributed the information to the state Committee for Industrial, Radiation and Nuclear Safety.