A devastating explosion has ripped through a private petrol and gas facility along Edibe Edibe Street in Calabar, leaving multiple residents injured and properties in ruins.
The incident, which occurred on Saturday in Calabar South Local Government Area, completely destroyed the facility identified as Fonex Gas Station.
The resulting inferno engulfed fuel and gas storage tanks, as well as several vehicles parked within the premises.
Situated in a densely populated neighbourhood, the blast sent shockwaves across the area, damaging nearby shops and residential buildings.
Panic-stricken residents and business owners fled the scene as flames spread rapidly.
Victims of the explosion sustained varying degrees of injuries. While some received immediate attention at nearby patent medicine outlets, others were rushed to hospitals for urgent medical care.
Emergency response was initially absent, as neither the police nor fire service had arrived at the scene at the early stage of the disaster.
This delay reportedly created an opportunity for hoodlums to loot goods from affected shops and the destroyed station.
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In the absence of official responders, residents took matters into their own hands, using sand, water, and other improvised methods in a desperate attempt to contain the raging fire.
Eyewitnesses offered conflicting accounts regarding the cause of the explosion. Some alleged that a customer’s phone use near the gas dispensing point may have ignited the blast.
Others, including a local mechanic, pointed to a possible electrical fault or the use of expired equipment within the facility.
The aftermath was marked by emotional distress, with distraught parents seen searching frantically for their children amid the chaos.
Confirming the development, Police Public Relations Officer, Eitokpah Sunday, stated that officers had been deployed to the scene.
He added that efforts were ongoing to mobilise fire service personnel, with support expected from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, to bring the situation under control.
