Gas cylinder leakage suffocates hundreds in Sudan’s capital

May 18, 2012 (KHARTOUM) – More than 200 citizens in the Sudanese capital Khartoum have suffered from suffocation as a result of a leakage of gas cylinder.

The incident took place on Friday in Al-Malaga area in Omdurman, Khartoum’s twin city, situated on the other side of the Nile.

According to the chief of police investigation department in Khartoum State, Lt-Gen Abdel-Rahman al-Nurabi, the leakage was caused when a homeless man removed the cylinder’s needle valve in order to sell it.

He pointed out that the leakage had led to the suffocation of 202 citizens but without any deaths. He further added that all those affected were hospitalised and later released except four whose health condition was now stabilising.

The police official also said that the site of the incident is currently surrounded by fire-fighting forces.

(ST)