By Ike Uchechukwu
No fewer than 31 persons sustained varying degrees of injuries, mainly burns, in a gas explosion that rocked Fomex Filling Station along Edibe Edibe Road, Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River State, on Saturday.
The blast occurred around 9:40 a.m., destroying properties worth millions of naira and razing sections of the facility, including fuel and gas storage tanks. Several vehicles parked on the premises were consumed by the inferno.
The explosion, which shook nearby buildings and was initially mistaken for a bomb by some eyewitnesses, occurred in a densely populated neighbourhood, damaging adjacent shops and forcing residents and business owners to flee.
When contacted, the Cross River State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eitokpah Sunday, who confirmed the incident, revealed that it occurred during an attempt by a gas attendant to transfer gas from a storage tank to a service tank.
“The hose detached, causing gas fumes to leak rapidly into the surrounding area. Efforts to secure the storage tap failed, prompting the attendant to evacuate immediately,
“The leak ( gas)engulfed the area in flames, resulting in significant property damage. No fatalities have been recorded as of press time.
“The 31 injured victims, with serious burns, are receiving treatment at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital.
Residents lamented the delayed arrival of federal and state fire services even one hour after the incident, though the University of Calabar Fire Service was mobilised to intervene.
Hoodlums reportedly looted affected shops amid the security vacuum, while thousands of residents attempted to contain the fire using sand, water, and improvised methods.
The Commissioner of Police, Rashid Agegbua, visited the scene for an on-the-spot assessment. Police deployed officers and coordinated with fire services, including support from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and UNICAL.
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