Inferno in Calabar: Gas Station Explosion Leaves Trail of Injuries, Destruction
A devastating explosion at a private petrol and gas facility in Calabar, Cross River State, has left several residents injured and properties destroyed, in what eyewitnesses describe as a chaotic and terrifying scene.
The incident, which occurred on Saturday along Edibe Edibe Street in Calabar South Local Government Area, completely razed the facility identified as Fonex Gas Station.
The blast triggered a massive fire that engulfed fuel and gas storage tanks, as well as vehicles parked within the premises.
Global Mirror News gathered that the station is located within a densely populated neighbourhood, worsening the impact as nearby shops and residential buildings were also affected. Residents and business owners fled in panic as flames spread rapidly across the area.
Several victims reportedly sustained serious injuries. While some received immediate attention at nearby patent medicine stores, others were rushed to hospitals for urgent medical care.
In a troubling development, emergency responders were initially absent from the scene, creating a vacuum that reportedly allowed hoodlums to loot goods from affected shops and the damaged facility. Residents were seen making desperate efforts to contain the fire using sand, water, and other improvised methods.
Eyewitness accounts surrounding the cause of the explosion remain conflicting. Some residents suggested that a customer’s phone use near the gas dispensing area may have triggered the blast, while others pointed to possible technical failures.
A local mechanic, Ekpenyong Sam, who works opposite the station, attributed the incident to a likely electrical fault or the use of expired equipment within the facility.
The explosion also sparked emotional scenes, with distraught parents seen searching frantically for their children amid the chaos.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in Cross River State, ASP Eitokpah Sunday, said Officers had been deployed to the scene. He added that efforts were ongoing to mobilise fire service personnel, including support from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, to bring the situation under control.
The Calabar explosion comes on the heels of a similar tragedy in Lagos, where a gas tanker collision along the Lekki-Epe Expressway recently claimed lives and destroyed properties, raising fresh concerns over safety compliance in Nigeria’s oil and gas distribution sector.
