THE scene at the Brian Lara Promenade, Port of Spain, last Thursday evening was reminiscent of bomb blasts often seen beaming into our homes from war-torn Iraq via television.

Myla Charles lay on the ground, bone jutting out of her lower left leg bleeding while she writhed in pain.

Two other women sat on the curb nursing minor wounds they sustained from the blast.

It was a scene of panic and despair as shocked pedestrians ran in every possible direction trying to escape flying debris including salted and fresh nuts.

As memories of last year’s four blasts returned, loud cries were heard coming from the corner of Charlotte Street and Independence Square, Port of Spain.

“Oh god!” cried a woman who observed Charles’ condition.

People who previously scampered to safety slowly began returning to the scene to see what really happened.

Three good samaritans rushed to Charles’ assistance.

One man took off his jersey and tied it around her leg.

He was assisted by the others to ensure some level of comfort for the injured woman.

Four uniformed soldiers who were opposite the spot where the incident took place, rushed over to help.

They tried to calm and control the large crowd that gathered.

Hundreds looked on in amazement, many of them counting their lucky stars since they, too, were close by when the explosion rocked the capital.

Police responded within minutes of the incident.

Someone believed to be the cart owner began rummaging through the rubble in the direct view of police officers.

His clean-up effort continued for a few minutes well before he was ordered to stop.

Police officers felt he was “tampering with evidence”.

Charles lay on the ground approximately 20 minutes before being whisked away by ambulances.

Another unidentified woman not physically injured but shaken up by the incident, broke down in tears.

MYLA CHARLES being assisted by EHS
ambulance while on the ground.

This unidentified woman was so shaken up that
she had to be comforted.

Churchgoers had rushed outside during service.

This man goes through the rubble after the blast.

She, too, was taken away by ambulance to be treated for shock.

Andrew Jack, still in disbelief, recalled how he had just purchased a pack of nuts from the vendor.

The explosion occurred a few seconds after he sat down on the corner to eat his nuts.

“When the blast went off, I felt hot water hitting my chest.

“The force from the explosion catapulted me from my seat and onto the ground.

“The DVD salesman who was near to the vendor disappeared, I don’t even know where he fled.”

The man said he was still traumatised by the unexpected experience.

The five o’clock mass that was in progress at the nearby Trinity Cathedral was temporarily stopped as worshippers ran outside to see what was taking place.

Mere minutes before the incident on the Brian Lara Promenade, the area was abuzz with people carrying out their daily activities.

Some folks were liming, while others were busy trying to get home.

Reports confirmed that a leaking gas line from the nuts cart caused the explosion.

It is not yet known whether the owner would be charged for negligence.