Two welders lost their lives and three others suffered injuries when an underground fuel tank exploded at Natty Filling Station in Daffo community, Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, on Friday.
The incident happened while the men carried out repairs on a leaking section of the tank.
They believed the tank held no fuel at the time, but vapours inside it ignited during the welding work.
Community leader Kefas Mallai described how the blast caught the workers by surprise.
He said the two men died on the spot while the three injured received treatment at a nearby hospital.
Residents in the area expressed concern over safety during such maintenance jobs at fuel stations.
Officials have yet to release an official statement on the cause, but early accounts point to residual fuel vapours as the trigger.
This event highlights the everyday risks that people face when they work around fuel storage without full safety checks.
Families of the deceased now face the difficult task of arranging burials, and the injured continue to recover.
Local authorities are expected to investigate the matter further to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
