Following a second gas leak at a Boysun gas field, residents of nearby villages are calling for urgent action as their health and livelihoods face increasing danger. On September 17, a second major accident at the site resulted in four fatalities and eleven injuries. As toxic hydrogen sulfide gas continues to leak from the well, locals are left grappling with health concerns, disrupted lives, and calls for compensation.

In the immediate aftermath of the incident, Kun.uz visited Kofrun village, where most of the residents had been evacuated. The village, located about 20 kilometers southeast of Boysun city, now stands eerily quiet as only a few return intermittently to tend to their livestock. “We’ve been feeling unwell—headaches and nausea. I had to leave my children in Rabot while I came back to feed the animals,” said a local woman. However, the few who stayed behind expressed frustration, highlighting the challenges of evacuating their homes.

Health and Safety Concerns Mount

Residents are reporting a range of health issues linked to exposure to sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide gases. Many villagers have complained of headaches, sore throats, and respiratory issues, and some have had to seek medical help repeatedly. Dilrabo Mirzaeva, a local mother, spoke about her ninth-grade daughter who became ill after inhaling the toxic fumes on her way back from school. "This is the third time we’ve brought her to the hospital. The smell of gas is everywhere, even in our home."

Local hospitals are seeing an increase in patients suffering from mild poisoning symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, and nausea. Farhod Abduganiev, head of the Boysun district medical unit, confirmed that patients typically stabilize within a couple of hours, though the gas continues to pose a serious threat to long-term health.

Calls for Compensation and Accountability

As the gas leak remains unresolved, residents are growing increasingly vocal about their demands for compensation from the contracting company responsible for drilling at the gas field. "We need compensation and tax relief. This gas is harmful, and it’s causing a lot of damage," said Mansur Qulmamatov, a resident of Kofrun.