Gas explosion destroys shops, vehicles in Abuja

An explosion caused by gas destroyed eight shops and several vehicles in Abuja's Kubwa area yesterday morning. The incident happened near Liberty Junction on Arab Road around 6 am after a Toyota 4Runner lost control and crashed into a cooking gas store. A resident, Monday Lucky, said the driver of the vehicle lost control and collided with the gas outlet; however, it was unclear if the vehicle was going the wrong way or veered into the opposite lane.

Lucky added that the driver, wife, and child were rescued by volunteers and taken to a hospital. Flames broke out shortly after the crash, and some shops close to the gas outlet had occupants inside at the time. Volunteers stopped traffic and helped evacuate people before the fire ignited. Witnesses said the fire was as high as a two-story building.

The gas outlet owner, Mrs. Chioma Madueke, stated that she had received a 2.5-tonne supply of gas the day before and lost 30 cylinders, including 18 50kg ones, along with regulators, control pumps, and hose pipes. The explosion destroyed the vehicle and damaged a nearby fence, and also damaged a police traffic post and a nearby drainage channel.

Emergency services, including the Federal Fire Service and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, responded to the scene to extinguish the fire and secure the area. The police are still searching for the unregistered, numberless vehicle's driver.