Explosion hits Calabar Gas station, injures residents, destroys property

A private petrol and gas filling station has exploded on Edibe Edibe Street in Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River State, leaving several residents severely injured and destroying property worth millions of naira.

The explosion,completely razed the facility identified as Fonex Gas Station.

The resulting inferno engulfed major sections of the station, including its fuel and gas storage tanks, as well as vehicles parked within the premises.

Located in a densely populated neighbourhood, the blast also affected nearby shops and residential buildings, forcing residents and business owners to flee for safety. Several victims sustained serious injuries, with some receiving first aid at nearby patent medicine stores, while others were rushed to hospitals for further treatment.

Eyewitness accounts on the cause of the explosion were conflicting. While some residents alleged that it may have been triggered by a customer making a phone call near the gas dispensing area, others dismissed the claim.

A local mechanic, Ekpenyong Sam, who works opposite the station, attributed the incident to a possible electrical fault or the use of expired equipment.

The explosion also triggered emotional scenes, as parents were seen crying and searching frantically for their children amid the chaos.