By Peter Omopo
A gas explosion rocked the Nobpet fueling station near the Air Force Junction in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Thursday morning, leaving five people injured and eight vehicles destroyed.
The explosion, which occurred at about 10 a.m. in the gas section of the facility, triggered a fire that quickly spread to the nearby premises of the Ebonyi State Transport Corporation, where the damaged vehicles were parked.
Emergency response teams from the Rivers State Fire Service and the Nigerian Air Force Fire Service worked together to bring the blaze under control, preventing further damage.
One of the victims, Emmanuel Ninyaegwu, a commercial driver, sustained injuries and lost his 18-seater bus in the fire. Speaking to Saturday PUNCH, he recalled the terrifying moment the explosion happened.
“I was preparing to load my vehicle for a trip to Ebonyi State. As I opened the boot, I heard a loud sound. I fell down and quickly got up to run before the explosion intensified. My vehicle was completely damaged. Some people got injured, including me, but thankfully, no lives were lost,” he said.
Ninyaegwu added that his pregnant wife was with him at the time but escaped unhurt.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the explosion.
