At least 38 people have been hospitalised following a gas explosion in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, with authorities confirming that no fatalities have been recorded, ENigeria Newspaper has confirmed.
The incident, which occurred at a gas station in Calabar South Local Government Area, left victims with varying degrees of burns and triggered emergency response efforts across the area.
Police authorities say all injured persons have been evacuated to medical facilities, even as details continue to emerge about how the explosion happened.
The Cross River State Police Command confirmed the development in an incident report made available to journalists in Calabar. The State Police Public Relations Officer, Sunday Eitokpah, provided a breakdown of the unfortunate incident.
“At approximately 10:00 AM on 20th March 2026, a gas explosion occurred during an attempt to transfer gas from the storage tank to the service tank by a gas attendant.
“During the operation, the hose detached, causing gas fumes to leak into the surrounding area. All attempts to secure the storage tap were unsuccessful, and the attendant had to evacuate immediately.
“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 of now, 38 victims with different degrees of burns have been evacuated to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital,” he said.
The explosion happened at the Fonex Gas Station on Edibe Edibe Road, where the fire severely damaged the building and nearby buildings. Investigations into the incident are still ongoing, but emergency services have now gotten the situation under control.
Concerns over safety compliance at the state’s gas handling facilities have prompted authorities to announce that more updates would be given as assessments continue.
