Boysun explosion aftermath: Schoolchildren and residents struggle with toxic gas exposure

On May 5, another explosion occurred at well No. 202 on the M-25 highway in Boysun district, causing a massive gas fountain. According to the Ministry of Energy, the high-pressure gas, which contained high levels of hydrogen sulfide, was ignited. On May 7, Kun.uz correspondent visited the area to understand the situation better and speak with the local population.

Some residents refused to comment, citing that "speaking is prohibited." However, one woman described how the smell of gas was noticeable between May 5 and 6, and most children were kept indoors.

A woman, whose husband works at the mine, explained that the gas smell was very strong the day of the explosion, but she had no information about what was happening or what might follow.

"My husband is just a regular worker, and no one gives us reports. I don’t know if this situation will have an end. We don’t know what will happen to us. Yesterday, the gas smell was so strong, I couldn’t stand it inside or outside. The children got poisoned, but we didn’t go to the hospital," she said.

"Nobody checked on our condition. Even if they had just built us a simple roof, we would have left. We would have agreed even if it cost us money, but nobody talks to us about the gas. Nobody offers help," she added.

One schoolchild returning home from school in Kofrun mentioned that some children lost consciousness after the explosion and were taken to the hospital.

"Four of us went to the hospital, and they gave us oxygen. I felt fine that day, but the others stayed in the hospital for two or three days. The gas smell is still there," she said.

Among the people, there are rumors that the gas is not yet contained, and that evacuation might be necessary. During our visit to the 55th school in Bibishirin neighborhood, located a bit further from the mine, we heard similar concerns from students. Some teachers also shared their experiences of the explosion’s impact.

"Initially, it caused headaches. Now it's gone. It's a lie that no one was affected. After the explosion, everyone had stomachaches. Almost 30-40 percent of the students lost their appetite," one teacher said.

The head doctor of the Boysun District Medical Union stated that no formal complaints had been received following the explosion. However, he emphasized that the population was not receiving adequate medical consultations.

According to the Boysun district administration's statement to Kun.uz, special vehicles are being used by the district's Ministry of Emergency Situations to carry water to the mine in an attempt to reduce the harmful effects of the gas. In case of emergency, evacuation shelters have been prepared.

"To ensure the safety of the residents of Kofrun neighborhood, temporary shelters have been arranged at the 1st vocational school in Gaza neighborhood, the 2nd vocational school in Mustaqillik neighborhood, the multifunctional college in Bibishirin, and the specialized boarding school No. 10 in Tuzbozor. Buses have been made ready for the temporary relocation of citizens, if necessary," the administration’s statement concluded.