An explosion at a government petroleum dumpsite in Abeokuta has killed a middle-aged man and seriously injured two others with varying degrees of burn.

The petroleum dumpsite under construction is located within the old yard of Ogun State Road Maintenance Agency, along Quarry Road in the Ogun State capital, south-west Nigeria.

According to an eyewitness at the construction site, the victims were working on some underground tankers being relocated from the government fuel dumps at the old secretariat when the explosion occurred.

Others at the scene alleged that the massive explosion could have been due to the improper management of the welding works on the underground tanks by the contractor.

After the flames from the explosion were put off by men of the Ogun State Fire Service, policemen from the Adigbe Division were said to have evacuated the remains of the victim from the underground compartment with the assistance of the fire men.

Explaining the cause of the explosion, the fire service personnel blamed the explosion on the non-observance of rules guiding welding works around such environment.

After the mishap, the Permanent Secretary of the Ogun State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Kayode Ademolake, former Commissioner of Works in the state and other government functionaries visit the site and commiserated with families of the affected persons.

•Photo shows Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun.