By Susan Mohammed

Copyright trinidadexpress

RIA George, who died after she was severely burned when an LPG cooking gas tank exploded in her home, suffered multiple organ failure due to third-degree burn wounds, a post-mortem found yesterday.

The post-mortem on George, 47, was done at the mortuary of the San Fernando General Hospital.

She suffered burns to 32% of her body.

The Express contacted her husband, Rakesh George, who said he did not wish to say anything but was preparing for a funeral for his wife tomorrow at Boodoo’s Funeral Home.

The Trinidad and Tobago National Petroleum Market-ing Company Ltd (NP) yesterday issued a media release urging the public to exercise stricter safety measures following George’s death.

NP expressed condolen-ces to the family of George.

The company said, “In this regard, NP takes this opportunity to remind the public that, once a cylinder enters a customer’s business or residential address, a ‘soapy water test’ should be performed at the connections between (i) the regulator and the valve, (ii) the regulator and the hose, and (iii) the hose and the stove, prior to its use.”

NP further advised that in the event that a gas leak is suspected, “customers are advised to immediately disconnect the cylinder and remove to a safe and secure location away from the premises”.

The company advised customers to report any issues or concerns related to LPG cylinders to the relevant distributor or retailer from which the cylinder was sourced.

NP said it was available to answer any questions and render assistance via its v-a-rious communication channels, such as its hotline, 800-NPMC (6762); WhatsApp, 686-6762; and e-mail, customer.service@np.co.tt, which can be found on NP’s website, www.np.co.tt.

“At NP safety is of paramount importance and we remain committed to ensuring that before distribution all LPG cylinders are safe for customers,” the release said.

George, of Diggity Trace, died on September 27 at the San Fernando General Hospital, where she was being treated for extensive burns she suffered during the incident seven weeks ago.

She was one of several people who have been burned during a cooking gas tank explosion.

Incidents of exploding cooking gas tanks

• June 2025—Raquel Babwah, 44, of Mt Pleasant Road, Springvale Village, Claxton Bay, died five days after she suffered extensive burns in a suspected cooking gas tank explosion.

• April 8, 2025—Naomi Ali-yah Mya De Mille, 19, of Lopinot Road, was reportedly killed after a gas tank explosion while she was cooking. De Mille died while being treated at the hospital.

• March 5, 2025—a house in Isles Trace, Enterprise, was damaged by fire due to a gas tank explosion.

• April 23, 2024—a gas tank exploded at a Mt Hope apartment, injuring two people.

• December 3, 2024—a man and a woman were in-jured when a gas tank explo-ded at a Malabar apartment.

• October 12, 2023—at Polaris Court, Piarco, a 20-pound LPG cylinder stored in a kitchen cupboard exploded. A 56-year-old woman was burned on her legs (first and second-degree burns). There was damage to the ceiling and the refrigerator.