An oil drum exploded like a bomb while being cut with an angle grinder, injuring a man and sending two others fleeing in panic.

The incident occurred in a welding workshop in Yigitler village, Karliova town, Bingol Province, Turkey, on 28th April.

Workshop owner Faruk Ograk was attempting to cut open an empty drum previously used for transporting waste oil when it suddenly exploded.

The blast was captured on security camera footage, showing sparks from the grinder igniting vapours inside the drum, causing a violent detonation.

Ograk sustained minor injuries to his hand, while two other men nearby were unhurt but visibly shaken.

Experts warn that even empty oil drums can retain flammable vapours, posing a significant explosion risk when exposed to heat or sparks.

The UK Health and Safety Executive advises that drums should be thoroughly cleaned and de-gassed before any hot work is undertaken.

Similarly, a farm contractor in Cornwall, UK, suffered serious injuries in 2019 when an oil drum exploded under similar circumstances.

(MJ Leidig/newsX)