The incident happened at Edibe Ediba and a gas attendant said the explosion occurred during an attempt to transfer gas from the storage tank to the service tank.
By Frank Ulom
CALABAR (CONVERSEER) – A gas station explosion has left no fewer than 38 persons severely injured in Calabar, Cross River State.
The incident which occurred on Saturday morning (10:00 AM) at Edibe Edibe, near Fonex Filling Station in Calabar South, also left several properties, which could not be quantified at the time of this report, destroyed. The affected properties include houses, vehicles and others.
A gas attendant at the gas station said the explosion occurred during an attempt to transfer gas from the storage tank to the service tank. During the operation, the hose detached, causing gas fumes, which were later ignited, to leak into the surrounding area.
“We were trying to receive the gas from a storage tank to the service tank. We’ve finished connecting. My boss said I should go and open it, he was there with me.
“As I opened the storage tank so that it could flow, the hose bursted, pulled out from the lock. I tried all possible best to lock it but could not. My boss called me to run out of the place,” one of the gas attendants said, before everything exploded.
One of the victims, HRH Ekanem Etim, whose house was affected, said he could only succeed in rescuing his family and credentials.
According to the monarch, “The only thing we heard in our house was like a bomb explosion. We were confused and I didn’t know what to do. The only thing I had to do was to rescue my little baby from the house. Then I struggled to evacuate my family. I didn’t know what to carry in the house. The only thing was to just pick my documents.
“All efforts to call on the fire service were abortive. The only thing we saw was the Police. I don’t even know whether we have fire service in this country or not,” Etim, whose house is just two houses from the explosion, stated, adding that, “My house was seriously affected.”
The police responded swiftly after the incident. According to ASP Sunday Eitokpah, Police Public Relations Officer in the state, a tactical team led by the Commissioner of Police, CP Rashid Afegbua, immediately visited the scene.
“The leak happened rapidly, leaving insufficient time to warn nearby residents. The area was engulfed in flames, resulting in significant property damage, the value of which is currently unquantified. Several residents sustained injuries, primarily burns. Those with serious burns have been transported to the Teaching Hospital for medical treatment.
“Fortunately, no fatalities have been reported at this time.
“As at now, 38 victims with different degrees of burns have been evacuated to UCTH (University of Calabar Teaching Hospital),” Eitokpah said.
Adding, “The prompt response of the Command ensured immediate coordination of rescue efforts, effective crowd control, and the safeguarding of lives and property. The proactive deployment of personnel and resources helped to prevent further escalation and restore calm in the affected area.
“The Cross River State Police Command remains committed to rapid response, public safety, and the protection of all residents.”
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