A gas station explosion has rocked parts of Calabar South in Cross River State, leaving several residents injured and properties destroyed after a fire engulfed a major fuel facility in the area.
The incident occurred at Fonex Gas and Filling Station located on Edibe Edibe Street, where an intense blaze tore through the premises and spread rapidly to surrounding shops and residential buildings. The facility, situated in a densely populated neighbourhood, was quickly overwhelmed as residents and business owners fled for safety.
Eyewitnesses said the inferno consumed key sections of the station, including fuel pumps, gas storage tanks, and vehicles parked within the compound. The explosion triggered panic across the community, with thick smoke and flames visible from a distance.
Several victims sustained varying degrees of injuries and were initially treated at nearby patent medicine stores, while others were rushed to hospitals for further medical attention. Residents at the scene made desperate efforts to contain the fire using sand, water, and other improvised methods before the arrival of emergency services.
Preliminary accounts from locals suggest the explosion may have been caused by an electrical fault or the use of faulty or expired equipment, though authorities are yet to confirm the exact cause.
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A traditional ruler, HRH Ekanem Etim, whose residence was affected, said the fire extended into his home, destroying valuables. He recounted how he rushed inside to retrieve only essential documents and his children, expressing relief that no lives were lost.
Etim also raised concerns over the delayed response of emergency services, questioning the absence of immediate firefighting support despite the scale of the incident.
Confirming the development, Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eitokpah Sunday Akata, said security personnel had been deployed to the area and efforts were ongoing to mobilise fire service teams, including support from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, to bring the situation under control.
As of the time of filing this report, residents continued to battle the aftermath of the explosion, while emergency responders were still being expected at the scene.
