Are you accessing this website using an Android phone?
If yes, the stress is over, just click the below button to download and install our Android app and we will hence bring the news to your doorstep.
By The Trumpet News Nigeria
A devastating gas explosion has rocked Calabar, Cross River State, leaving at least 38 people hospitalised and properties worth millions of naira destroyed in what many now describe as a preventable disaster.
The incident occurred on Saturday morning at a private petrol and gas facility located along Edibe Edibe Street in Calabar South — a densely populated residential neighbourhood — triggering a massive fire that quickly spread to nearby buildings and businesses.
🔥 Chaos, Injuries and Delayed Response
Eyewitnesses recounted scenes of panic as residents fled for safety while thick flames engulfed the station, fuel tanks, and vehicles within the premises. Several victims sustained severe burns, with many rushed to hospitals while others received first aid at nearby shops.
Police authorities later confirmed that 38 victims were hospitalised, though no deaths had been officially recorded at the time of filing this report.
However, the situation was worsened by a delayed emergency response, as both federal and state fire services reportedly failed to arrive promptly due to faulty or vandalised fire trucks.
Residents were left to battle the inferno themselves using sand, water, and improvised tools — a development that has triggered widespread outrage.
⚠️ Confusion Over Cause
Authorities and eyewitnesses have given conflicting accounts regarding the cause of the explosion.
While some alleged that a phone call near the gas dispensing area may have ignited the blast, others pointed to faulty electrical systems or deteriorating equipment at the station.
Separate accounts also suggested possible human error during repair work, though investigations are still ongoing.
🏚️ Looting, Panic and Security Breakdown
In the aftermath of the explosion, the chaotic environment reportedly created an opportunity for hoodlums to loot goods from affected shops and the damaged facility before security operatives regained control.
Parents were also seen searching frantically for missing children, highlighting the scale of panic that gripped the community.
🏛️ Gov Otu Reacts, Blames Poor Urban Planning
Governor Bassey Otu, who visited the scene, described the level of destruction as “huge” and criticised the location of such a hazardous facility within a residential area.
The governor’s reaction has reignited the long-standing debate over poor urban planning and weak enforcement of safety regulations across Nigerian cities.
🇳🇬 Growing National Concern
The Calabar explosion is the latest in a string of gas-related disasters across Nigeria, raising fresh concerns about:
- Proliferation of gas plants in residential areas
- Poor maintenance of critical infrastructure
- Weak emergency response systems
- Regulatory lapses by authorities
Experts warn that without urgent reforms, similar tragedies could continue to occur in major cities like Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Abuja.
📱 Social Media Captions
Caption 1:
38 people hospitalised, properties destroyed — Calabar explosion exposes dangerous safety lapses.
Caption 2:
Fire, chaos, looting — what really happened in the Calabar gas blast?
Caption 3:
Should gas stations be banned from residential areas? Calabar tragedy sparks debate.
Join Our WhatsApp Channel
DEAR READER,
Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government. For continued free access to the best investigative journalism in the country, we ask you to consider making modest support to this noble endeavor. By contributing to The Trumpet News, you are helping to sustain journalism of relevance and ensuring it remains free and available to all. Your donation is voluntary — please decide how much and how often you want to give.
For offline donations, email donations@thetrumpetngr.com or call +2347026891070:
You May Also Like This...
