CALABAR — The Governor of Cross River State, Bassey Otu, has promised that the state government will cover the medical bills of victims injured in Friday’s gas explosion along Edibe-Edibe Road in Calabar South NEGROIDHAVEN can say.
Otu gave the assurance on Saturday when he visited the scene of the incident accompanied by his Chief of Staff, Hon. (Dr.) Emmanuel Ironbar.
The governor sympathised with victims of the explosion and directed relevant authorities to immediately compile an inventory of both public and private property destroyed in the fire.
He also pledged that the state government would introduce measures aimed at preventing recurring fire incidents across the state.
The explosion, which occurred on Friday morning in the Edibe-Edibe area of Calabar, reportedly happened during the transfer of gas from a storage tank to a service tank at a gas facility.
According to preliminary accounts, the hose used in the transfer process detached, leading to a rapid gas leak that ignited and triggered a fire outbreak in the area.
Emergency responders evacuated victims with varying degrees of burns to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital for treatment.
Officials said at least 38 persons sustained injuries in the incident, though no deaths had been officially reported as of the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, the Cross River State Police Command said its operatives were deployed to the scene shortly after the explosion.
The Commissioner of Police, Rashid Afegbua, led tactical teams to assess the situation, coordinate rescue efforts and maintain order in the affected area.
Authorities said investigations into the cause of the explosion were ongoing.
