A petrol and gas filling station located on Edibe Edibe Street in Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River State has been destroyed by a powerful explosion, leaving several residents injured and properties damaged.
The incident, which occurred on Saturday, completely gutted the facility known as Fonex Gas Station. The fire engulfed key parts of the station, including its fuel and gas storage tanks, as well as vehicles parked within the premises.
Situated in a densely populated area, the explosion also impacted nearby shops and residential buildings, forcing many residents and business owners to flee for safety. Several people sustained serious injuries, with some receiving initial treatment at nearby patent medicine stores, while others were taken to hospitals for further care.
At the time of reporting, emergency responders, including the police and fire service, had yet to arrive at the scene, creating a security gap that reportedly allowed looters to take advantage of the situation by stealing goods from affected shops and the damaged station.
In the absence of immediate official response, residents attempted to control the fire using sand, water, and other improvised methods, while large crowds gathered at the scene.
Eyewitnesses gave conflicting accounts of the cause of the explosion. Some suggested it may have been triggered by a customer using a mobile phone near the gas dispensing area, while others pointed to a possible electrical fault or faulty equipment within the facility. A local mechanic, Ekpenyong Sam, supported the theory of an electrical or equipment-related cause.
The incident also led to emotional scenes, with parents seen searching frantically for their children amid the chaos.
Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP Eitokpah Sunday, said officers had been deployed to the area. He added that efforts were ongoing to mobilise fire service personnel, including support from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, to contain the blaze.
The explosion comes shortly after a similar incident in Lagos, where a collision involving a gas tanker and a tipper truck along the Lekki-Epe Expressway resulted in fatalities and destruction of warehouses.
