A petrol and gas station has exploded on Edibe Edibe Street in Calabar South, Cross River State, injuring residents and destroying property.
The incident, which occurred at about 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, razed the facility identified as Fonex Gas Station and destroyed fuel tanks and vehicles within the premises.
It was reported that the station, located in a densely populated area, also affected nearby shops and buildings, forcing residents and business owners to flee to safety.
Several victims sustained varying degrees of injury. Some were treated at nearby patent medicine stores, while others were taken to hospitals for further medical attention.
The chaotic situation created by the incident provided an opportunity for hoodlums to loot goods from affected shops and the damaged facility.
Residents were seen attempting to contain the fire using sand, water and other improvised methods as emergency responders had yet to arrive at the scene.
Mrs. Christiana Uti, an eyewitness, told reporters that calls to the fire service did not yield an immediate response, as officials reportedly said their fire trucks were not functional.
She added that a University of Calabar fire truck arrived later, after the facilities had already been severely damaged.
Mrs. Olumayowa Olomola, State Commanding Officer of the Federal Fire Service, attributed her office’s inability to respond promptly to a faulty fire truck.
Olomola explained that the federal fire truck was recently vandalised by hoodlums in Calabar during an operation.
“Not only was our truck vandalised, but some of our officers were also injured during the operation.
“The state government is aware and promised to fix the truck and treat the injured officers. However, several follow-ups have not yielded results months later,” she said.
Also speaking, Mr. Emmanuel Ajom, Director of the State Fire Service, said the state’s fire trucks were under maintenance and could not respond to the incident.
He explained that the trucks, procured about 14 years ago, are currently undergoing routine maintenance.
Eyewitnesses gave conflicting accounts of the cause of the explosion. Some alleged that a phone call near the station triggered it, while others suggested different causes.
A mechanic, Mr. Sam Ekpenyong, attributed the incident to a possible electrical fault or expired equipment.
“I believe the fire may have been caused by a faulty electrical connection at the station, as there was no visible fire that could have triggered the explosion,” he said.
The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Sunday Akata, confirmed the incident, noting that officers had been deployed to the scene.
The State Commissioner of Police, Rashid Afegbua, later visited the area to assess the situation and maintain law and order.
Emotional scenes were also witnessed, as parents searched for their children amid the chaos.
