A gas explosion rocked a filling station along Edide Road in the Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River State on Saturday morning, destroying property worth millions of naira. The incident occurred around 9:40 am, with eyewitnesses describing the blast as so powerful that it shook nearby buildings, initially mistaken for a bomb detonation. No fatalities were recorded as of the time of filing this report. Residents expressed concern about the delayed response from both federal and state fire services, including after one hour following the explosion. However, the University of Calabar Fire Service was contacted and expected to intervene.
The Commissioner of Police, Rashid Agegbua, has visited the scene for an on-the-spot assessment. Further details are expected as authorities take control of the situation.
Similarly, in Lagos, tragedy struck earlier in the day when a gas-laden truck explosion claimed the lives of two men along the Lekki-Epe Expressway in the Sangotedo area.
The victims, identified as a tipper driver and his assistant, were burnt beyond recognition after their vehicle rammed into a stationary truck loaded with gas around 2 am. The impact triggered an immediate explosion, setting off a massive fire.
Officials of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service said the inferno rapidly spread to nearby structures, engulfing three warehouses and about 10 roadside shops, including a gym and a generator house.
Emergency responders from multiple fire stations were eventually deployed to the scene and brought the blaze under control, preventing further escalation. However, several vehicles, including buses and a car, were destroyed. Authorities revealed that the driver of the gas truck escaped unhurt.