A gas explosion rocked Kubwa, an Abuja suburb, in the early hours of Sunday after a vehicle rammed into a gas retail station at Liberty Junction, damaging at least nine shops and disrupting traffic in the area.
The incident, which occurred at about 6:15am, also affected a police traffic post and injured the driver of the vehicle.
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Eyewitnesses said the crash triggered a fire that sent thick smoke across the area, with flames spreading to a row of shops and containers close to the gas station.
The vehicle was completely burnt in the incident, leaving its frame severely damaged. The driver and a child who was in the vehicle were rescued, while the injured driver was taken to a medical facility for treatment.
Emergency responders, including personnel of the Federal Fire Service, Federal Capital Territory Fire Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Nigeria Police, were deployed to the scene.
The responders worked for several hours to put out the fire and prevent it from spreading to other businesses within the busy commercial area.
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The explosion also caused significant traffic congestion along the corridor as commuters, motorcyclists and other road users slowed down around the scene. Residents and passersby gathered behind security cordons as firefighters battled the blaze and cleared the affected area.
Fire trucks occupied sections of the road as emergency personnel worked to secure the area and remove the wreckage.
The extent of the driver’s injuries was not immediately known as of the time of filing this report.
Normalcy has since returned to the area, with emergency personnel clearing the scene and traffic gradually easing.
