A powerful explosion has rocked a private petrol and gas filling station on Edibe Edibe Street in Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River State, leaving several residents injured and causing widespread property damage.
The incident, which occurred on Saturday, completely razed the facility identified as Fonex Gas Station. Eyewitnesses reported that the blast triggered a massive inferno that rapidly engulfed critical sections of the station, including fuel pumps, gas storage tanks, and vehicles parked within the premises.
Located in a densely populated neighborhood, the impact of the explosion extended beyond the station, affecting nearby shops, residential buildings, and business premises. The intensity of the fire forced residents and traders to flee the area in panic as flames spread uncontrollably.
Several individuals sustained varying degrees of injuries during the incident. While some victims received immediate treatment at nearby patent medicine stores, others with more severe burns and injuries were rushed to hospitals for urgent medical care.
As of the time of filing this report, emergency response teams, including the fire service, had yet to arrive at the scene, heightening anxiety among residents. In the absence of professional responders, locals made desperate attempts to contain the fire using sand, water, and other improvised means.
The situation was further complicated by reports of looting, as hoodlums allegedly took advantage of the chaos to cart away goods from affected shops and parts of the damaged facility.
Conflicting accounts have emerged regarding the cause of the explosion. Some witnesses attributed it to a phone call made near a gas dispensing point, while others suggested possible electrical faults or malfunctioning equipment as the likely trigger.
The Police Public Relations Officer in Cross River State, ASP Eitokpah Sunday Akata, confirmed that security personnel had been deployed to the area to restore order. He added that efforts were ongoing to mobilize fire service units, with additional support expected from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria.
Authorities are continuing investigations to determine the exact cause of the explosion as emergency control measures intensify.
