Customers at the Koko Bean Cafe in the Laufou Shopping Center were shaken up on Wednesday, December 24, when allegedly a gas tank exploded inside the cafe’s kitchen, causing one of its employees to be injured.

Samoa News received several calls from customers reporting the incident, which occurred close to lunch hour on Christmas Eve at the busiest shopping center on island with a crowd of people in the area.

One woman who called Samoa News said she was having breakfast with her husband when she heard an explosion, and saw one of the female employees injured from the fire. She said she immediately contacted 9-1-1 for assistance.

“This is sad, nearing the holidays and this has happened, even sadder is that there are a lot of people here at Laufou — but it could’ve been worse,” she said.

Police officers told Samoa News that an investigation is underway as to why the explosion occurred. Numerous witnesses saw fire trucks and ambulance vehicles arrive at the packed shopping center, following the incident.

Samoa News sent questions about the incident to the owners of Koko Bean Cafe, however there was no reply as of Wednesday afternoon.