Calabar Gas Explosion Injures Residents, Exposes Emergency Response Failures
Oluwatobi Adu 
CALABAR, Nigeria – A gas station explosion injures several residents and destroys properties in Calabar South, exposing critical gaps in emergency response systems.
The blast occurred at Fonex Gas Station along Edibe Edibe Street, engulfing fuel tanks, vehicles and nearby buildings in flames.
Residents scramble to contain the fire using buckets of water and sand as official responders fail to arrive promptly.
Eyewitness Christiana Uti says, “They said their fire trucks were not functional.”
Eventually, a fire unit from the University of Calabar arrives, but not before extensive damage occurs.
Federal Fire Service official Olumayowa Olomola blames the delay on a vandalised truck, while state authorities cite ageing equipment under maintenance.
Police, led by Commissioner Rashid Afegbua, deploy officers to restore order and prevent looting.
The cause remains unclear, with speculation ranging from electrical faults to human error.
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Edino Chubiyo Cornelius 
