Officials remain silent regarding the powerful explosion that occurred on December 17 at the “Petrolium” gas station in the Fergana region. Meanwhile, social networks are daily flooded with new and horrific details following this tragedy.
“A family burned alive”
According to the writings of Fergana users, at the time of the explosion, a 36-year-old makeup artist woman, along with her two children and a niece, burned alive in one of the cars. Several Instagram users have confirmed this information.
It has been established that the woman entered the gas station to fill up when the explosion occurred. As a result, she, her two children, and her 18-year-old niece were reportedly killed.
“Two, three, four coffins emerged…”
According to citizens who analyzed the videos spread on networks, after the explosion, it was seen that from one house, two, three, even up to four coffins came out. Tal'at Hasanov, analysing a video in slow motion, counted at least 20 people dead. Sherzod Tilovov, based on information obtained from a close source, reported that the number of victims exceeded 20.
37 or 40…? Where are the officials looking?
Lola Umarova, among active Instagram users, wrote that the number of victims reached 37 people. Others have reported that some of the injured died in the hospital, thus raising the death toll to over 40.
Interestingly, no official statements have yet been made by authorities – the Fergana regional administration, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Emergency Services, and other officials regarding this terrible tragedy. They neither confirmed nor denied the numbers spreading on the internet. This raises the question: does this silence imply consent?
8 or 9? The contradiction in numbers
An official statement distributed on December 17 mentioned that eight citizens were in the hospital. However, on the same day, Davlatbek Oripov, a doctor from the Republican Emergency Medical Center's Fergana branch, spoke about nine injured persons. The discrepancy between these numbers also raises questions.
The biggest question: why wasn't a government commission formed?
The explosion in Fergana is being assessed as one of the largest disasters in Uzbekistan. In similar previous disasters – explosions in Urgench, Kogon, Denov, Jizzakh, Sergeli, and even during power outages, government commissions were formed by the order of the President or the Prime Minister.
Yet, despite the death of a 36-year-old woman and her children, hundreds injured, and extensive damage to many homes, there has been neither a government commission nor a clear explanation this time. Why?
Why was the “gas station” immediately demolished?
Normally, the site of an explosion would be sealed off and kept under protection until an investigation is completed. However, in this case, the “Petrolium” gas station was demolished before an investigation began.
The Fergana region Emergency Services justified this action by alleging it was done at the entrepreneur’s “own will” and because they wouldn’t conduct any other activity. This brings up the question: Does law prevail, or the entrepreneur’s wishes?
Public transparency is needed!
Such questions continue to arise among the public regarding this tragedy. Without official information on the number of victims, the investigation process, and the reasons, the spread of fake and dubious information, along with a growing distrust among the population, is inevitable.
Transparency is a duty of the government and a right of the society.
