MIRA Gas Oxygen Tank Explosion Injures Dozens

The Freeport Community was thrown into panic on Monday when a massive oxygen tank exploded at the premises of the MIRA Gas Company near CEMENCO, sending shockwaves across the densely populated industrial hub.

The early Monday afternoon, September 15, 2025 blast left several workers wounded and triggered widespread alarm as plumes of smoke covered the skyline.

Initial reports from the Liberia National Fire Service (LNFS) confirmed that seven people sustained injuries during the explosion.

According to Edwin Tisdell, Deputy Director of Operations at the LNFS, all victims were rushed to the John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital (JFK) for emergency medical treatment. Fortunately, no fatalities were reported.

“The explosion was contained before spreading to other facilities, and we can confirm that no lives were lost,” Tisdell told reporters, adding that firefighters were able to prevent a possible chain reaction that could have devastated the Freeport area.

However, conflicting accounts have since emerged, raising questions about the extent of injuries.

An employee of MIRA Gas Company, who witnessed the horrifying incident, insisted that as many as 16 workers were initially rushed to the Mawah Clinic in Vai Town before being transferred to JFK due to the severity of their wounds.

Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos, with employees fleeing in all directions, some with visible burns and bleeding injuries.

“It was like a bomb went off,” one worker recounted. “People were screaming, running, and others were lying on the ground. We are lucky nobody died.”

The cause of the explosion remains under investigation, but preliminary suspicions point to a possible fault in the oxygen tank’s pressure system.

Authorities say they will conduct a full probe to establish whether negligence or poor safety standards contributed to the incident.

Emergency responders, including paramedics and firefighters, battled frantically to stabilize the situation.

Traffic in and around the Freeport Community was brought to a standstill as police cordoned off the area to prevent further casualties and ensure public safety.

Residents of the surrounding neighborhoods expressed concern over the potential danger of operating such high-risk facilities within crowded communities.

Many are calling on government regulators to step up monitoring of industrial companies that handle explosive materials.

Meanwhile, families of the injured have thronged JFK, anxiously seeking updates on the condition of their loved ones.

Hospital sources hinted that some of the victims remain in critical condition, though no official statement has yet been issued by medical authorities.

The explosion has reignited debate about occupational safety standards in Liberia’s industrial sector.

Labor rights groups are already demanding a swift and transparent investigation, as well as stronger safety enforcement to prevent another near-tragedy of this magnitude.