Gruesome Death Again At Sethi’s Oxygen Plant -Liberians Ponder Why Frequent Accidents at the Plant

MONROVIA –The oxygen plant explosion which took place yesterday in the industrial area of Sethi Ferro Fabrik, Inc. had one fatality, not two as was previously reported, though the death was described by eyewitnesses as “gruesome, extremely nasty and painful by witnesses,” and is not the first.

Saah J. Samukai left home yesterday, fully agile and bouncing with health, not knowing what was afoot, as he entered his workplace – the oxygen plant facility in Gardsnerville Township outside of Monrovia.

Few hours of work, sources say, the sound of explosion was like Russian bomb on Kyiv, shattering heavy equipment inside the plant and shaking buildings nearby.

“When we rush to the scene minutes later, it was all smoke and blood, folks blown up by the impact,” said an eyewitness who does not want to see his name in print.  “The men nearby suffered severe burns, skins dragging about. Saah was totally blown up, charred, dismembered – dead on the spot.”

The source said the yesterday’s catastrophe is not the first, several others had taken place before, leading to death and/or severe burns.

“Just that man can’t say it all,” said the source. “These incidents are frequent due to inexperience of some of our folks working in such volatile industrial terrain, and also in part because management has consistently refused to provide the necessary training and equipment on the job. In fact, there is no insurance coverage for us, despite the fact we are assigned in these highly dangerous places such as the steel and oxygen plant.”

Similar Incident in 2021

It can be recalled similar explosion occurred in 2021 when furnace which use to melt steel overspilled to several workers.

In a release reporting the incident at the time, Sethi said unforeseen event at the safety protocol obsessed, immediately after the blast victim was rushed to JFK medical hospital for treatment, unfortunately one of the expatriates died from injuries.

Three of the six wounded, including two Librarians, were flown to Ghana for advanced medical treatment at Korle But Medical center Harishchandra Sahni has recovered from his wounds and has since been discharged from JFK medical center in Monrovia.

Though the Liberia National Police promised immediate investigation into the explosion which occurred at the Sethi Trading Company in the Gardnersville Community, the report of the investigation did not see public light.

The police said at the time that it had established that the incident occurred in the furnace department by a magnetic cream that transports metals to the oven.

It was also established that one of the cables of the magnetic cream cut which caused the explosion of the metal pot thereby affecting seven of its employees, 4 Liberians and 3 Indians) Nationals were victimized.

Still yet, the Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia (EPA) at the time released preliminary report on the industrial accident at Sethi Steel Factory in Gardnersville, stating it had received reports from its field services that an accident has occurred at Sethi Ferro Fabrik, a steel fabrication factory located in the Industrial Park, LPRC Community, Gardnersville.

Expression of Remorse, Condolences       

After the fatal incident, the management of Sethi Ferro Fabrik Inc. issued a press statement expressing profound regret over the incident, which it said resulted in the death of an employee assigned to the Company’s Oxygen Plant.

“Our thoughts and sincere condolences go out to the family, friends, and colleagues affected by this tragic loss,” the company said. “We have begun immediate engagement with the family of Saah Samukai and are doing everything we can to support them during this difficult period.”

The company clarified that, contrary to earlier media reports suggesting two fatalities and multiple injuries, only one death occurred, and no other injuries were sustained.

It noted that immediate action was taken following the incident, “and we are cooperating with local authorities as they conduct an investigation”.

“Our employees are the heart of our operations, and their safety is our top priority,” Sethi Ferro Fabrik This loss is deeply painful for all of us,” says the Management of Sethi Ferro Fabrik.

“We will do everything in our power to support the family of Mr. Samukai and to work alongside the authorities to understand and address this tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers remain with the bereaved family, and we will continue to provide the necessary support during this difficult period.”