JEDDAH – A number of relatives of the victims of a gas cylinder explosion at a restaurant in Al-Wazereya district in South Jeddah complained their injured relatives were not receiving proper treatment, a local daily reported. Muhammad Hussein's son, Sultan, was one of the 19 injured in the blast. Sultan suffered burns to 100 percent of his body and was being kept in the emergency section at King Abdulaziz Hospital. “The room is accessible to all visitors. Sultan could catch a virus from any of the visitors and my son's condition is not acceptable." “The emergency section is full of mosquitos and most of the time I have to sit next to my son to protect him from mosquito bites. There is no follow up; there is no care," he added. Hussein said the restaurant had stored six gas cylinders next to the oven and blamed Civil Defense for not carrying out its duty properly when they inspected the restaurant. “I want those responsible for my son's suffering to be punished." Sultan's brother said his brother's condition needs a specialized hospital that deals with burn victims. He urged officials to act quickly and save his brother's life. Mahdi Ali Yamani's son, Ali, suffered burns to over 80 percent of his body. He said his son requires specialized medical care that is not available at King Abdulaziz Hospital. Yamani said he had visited the Health Affairs office to request his son be transferred but was told that his son is receiving the proper medical care. Sami Badawood, director of Health Affairs in Jeddah, said that the lack of beds at King Abdulaziz hospital forced officials to transfer some of the victims to hospitals in Makkah. Badawood said the hospital was forced to make an exception and place some of the patients in the emergency section. The death toll from the explosion rose to five on Wednesday after three more victims succumbed to their injuries. On Tuesday, two victims died as a result of their injuries. — SG
