Many Injured As Gas Station Explodes In Calabar

An explosion occurred yesterday at a private petrol and gas filling station along the Edible-Edible axis of Calabar South local government area of Cross River State, leaving several residents severely injured with property worth millions of naira destroyed.

The inferno consumed major sections of the station, including its fuel and gas storage tanks, as well as vehicles parked within the premises.

The explosion affected nearby shops and buildings forcing residents and business owners to flee for safety.

Several victims sustained serious injuries from the impact of the explosion.

As at the time of filing this report, many victims were said to be receiving first aid at nearby patent medicine stores while others were rushed to hospitals for further treatment.

Meanwhile, neither the police nor operatives of the fire service were at the scene about 50 minutes after the incident and their absence had created room for hoodlums and looters to cart away items from affected shops and the damaged facility.

Thousands of residents gathered at the scene, with some attempting to assist in containing the fire using sand, water and other improvised means.

“We are trying to prevent the fire from spreading to other buildings,” one of the residents, Uduak Isong, told LEADERSHIP Sunday.

Eyewitness accounts on the cause of the explosion varied. Some residents alleged that it may have been triggered by a customer making a phone call near the gas dispensing area.

However, a mechanic, Sammy Efiwatt, attributed the incident to a possible electrical fault or expired equipment within the facility. “It could be an electrical fault or equipment failure,” Efiwatt maintained.

Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP Eitokpah Sunday Akata, who later arrived at the scene of the incident alongside other officers said the state Commissioner of Police, CP Rashid Afegbua, deployed the officers alongside with him to tackle the security situation.

He said that efforts were underway to mobilise fire service personnel to contain the situation.