By Abasi and
Residents of Calabar were thrown into panic on Saturday following a gas explosion at a filling station along Edibe Edibe Street in Calabar South Local Government Area.
The early morning blast at the private petrol and gas facility left several residents injured and destroyed properties worth millions of naira.
Eyewitnesses said the explosion was so intense that it shook nearby buildings, with many initially mistaking it for a bomb. The fire quickly spread to adjoining structures, forcing residents to flee while salvaging their belongings.
Some victims sustained burns of varying degrees and were rushed to nearby medical facilities, while others received first aid at the scene.
Residents expressed frustration over the delayed response of emergency services, noting that firefighters arrived long after the fire had escalated.
The incident has renewed concerns about the state’s preparedness to handle emergencies, with reports that the Cross River State Government lacks functional fire trucks, a situation many believe worsened the delayed response.
This follows a recent incident on Goldie Street where a truck from the Federal Fire Service was attacked by aggrieved youths over what they described as a late response to a fire that destroyed goods and property worth millions of naira.
Security operatives, including the police, later cordoned off the area and began preliminary investigations into the cause of the explosion, which remains unknown.
Authorities are expected to provide further updates as investigations continue, while residents assess the damage and count their losses.
