An explosion during the disposal of explosives in the Kwakwani compound of the Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated (BCGI), shortly after noon yesterday has left several persons injured – three seriously.
The trio, two Russians: Andrey Kotsynbinskiy, 33, and Renat Muldashev, 55, and a Guyanese Michael Inniss were air-dashed to the city yesterday afternoon for treatment. At least four others were brought to the city by ambulance, according to a regional official based in the bauxite mining community in Region Ten.
“They had an explosion. They were disposing of some expired explosives and apparently one of them exploded,” the official said. The type of explosives being disposed of by BCGI – a subsidiary of the Russian-owned RUSAL – was not clear but Stabroek News was told that the operation had the support of the police.
Police, in a statement said that at about midday yesterday, an explosives expert hired by Rusal was involved in the destruction of a quantity of unserviceable explosives at Dockers Ridge, Kwakwani, during which four persons received injuries. The other injured person was police constable Royston Chapman who was treated at the Mackenzie Hospital and sent away.
“It is reported that persons were cautioned to keep at a specific distance away, but are believed to have apparently encroached unconsciously and were affected by the blast from the explosives,” the police said. “Unconfirmed information has been received that another person may have been affected by the blast,” the statement added. A motor vehicle belonging to Rusal was also damaged.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment has dispatched a team to investigate the incident.
“The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment has mandated the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, Ministry of Labour and other agencies to conduct an urgent investigation and to examine occupational health and safety concerns at the company’s operation,” the ministry said in a statement. It added that Minister Robert Persaud has urged the team to conduct an expeditious and thorough investigation to ascertain the cause of the injuries.
“I was in my bed, all I heard was a ‘bam’ and I jump out my bed,” one resident related to Stabroek News. She said that she later heard it was an explosion. Parliamentarian Renis Morian told Stabroek News that residents had expressed unease about the manner in which the explosives were being disposed of and were fearful. He said they are calling for an in-depth inquiry to ascertain what actually occurred.
Following the explosion, the injured were taken to the Kwakwani Hospital where they were treated. The three persons who were more seriously injured were later air-dashed to the city while at least four others were brought out by ambulance. One of the Russian employees sustained injuries to the left side of his head and left hand while the other sustained injuries to the left side of his head. According to the ministry, Rusal management had indicated that efforts were being made to have its workers air-dashed to Georgetown for further precautionary medical attention.
Inniss sustained injuries to his chest and seemed to be the most seriously injured, according to the official. “His breathing is not normal,” the official commented. Stabroek News was told that the others suffered hearing loss and the effect of the blast also impacted on their chests. They were taken to a private hospital.
