Appeal to assist gas explosion victims ELLANIE SMIT Ten people have died from the gas explosion that occurred recently at a farm near Dordabis, while a special humanitarian appeal has been issued for assistance to the family involved.
By yesterday the death toll stood at ten people that were killed in the explosion that occurred on Friday, 14 October in which 15 people were injured.
The explosion, which occurred on the farm Garib about 25km from Dordabis, injured 11 children and four adults, all members of the same family.
The incident occurred at one of the houses of the farmworkers when a gas cylinder inside the house exploded and the house burnt down.
Shortly after the injured were taken to hospital four children died and one of the women injured in the fire had a miscarriage. In the meantime four other children and one adult have died.
The gas cylinder apparently had not been used for over a year and was leaking.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (ELCRN) has appealed for assistance, moral support and prayers for the family.
According to a statement the church visited the family and assessed their immediate needs. Counselling was provided to traumatised family members.
The deceased were: Alinodro !Nau/Gawaseb (6), Henrico Plaaitjies (11), Bores Geibeb (11), Anna Geibes (5), Veronica Plaaitjies (36), Analien Geibes (12), Nicoleen Geibes (10), Bradley Jagger and a six-year-old girl.
Only one of the five survivors who are still in hospital is out of the ICU. The others are still in a critical but stable condition.
According to the statement ELCRN has opened a trust account for the family at Nampost Savings Bank. The account details are Witbeen Family Fund, smartcard account number: 34374333.
Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
Any donations are welcomed.
According to Uhuru Dempers of the ELRCN Desk for Social Development, the ministries of child welfare and education have pledged their support.
For enquiries, contact Pastor Maureen Dausas at the Dordabis Parish of ELCRIN on 081 311 0574, or Dempers at 081 252 5095, or family members Aletha /Gawases at 081 279 1377 and Yvonne Juman at 081 810 5133.