Four people died and several others sustained serious injuries after an explosion rocked the Grain Marketing Depot (GMB) Lions Den Depot yesterday afternoon.
The explosion is suspected to have been caused by an electrical fault and it birthed a fire in the control tower plant and it collapsed on impact.
GMB officials said when they conducted their roll call four workers were uncounted for before the recovery of one body.
Three people were rescued, and among them was one who was affected by carbon monoxide trying to render rescue services.
He was however resuscitated by medical personnel.
Misheck Nyarubero a resident of a location near the depot said he saw one body as he entered the damaged plant in search of victims.
“I entered the plant trying to find people and I saw only one but I think about four people could have been trapped inside the silo,” Nyarubero said.
The silo valves opened up, and in the process released grain to the tunnel which is part of the escape routes.
Minister of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement, Rtd Air Chief Marshall Perrance Shiri flew prompted investigations to be carried out by forensic experts to ascertain the real cause of the explosion, while engineering experts will have to assess the extent of the damage to the plant and the silo in question.
The incident severely damaged the foundation of the silo and concrete blocks forming foundation of the escape route were ripped up and strewn metres way off the storage facility.
The Lions Den GMB depot is the country’s largest grain storage facility and is a strategic institution.
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