By Olawumi Oyehan
The early morning gas explosion at the Liberty Junction area of Kubwa, Abuja on Sunday was caused by a car that rammed into a gas retail station, injuring the driver and setting off fire that spread to nearby shops and a police traffic post.
The incident, which occurred around 6:15am, sent thick smoke billowing across the area as flames tore through a row of shops and container close to the station. At least, nine shops were affected. The vehicle itself was left completely burnt out, its frame reduced to a blackened shell by the time firefighters brought the situation under control. Its driver and a little child were however rescued.
The impact of the explosion extended to a police traffic post in the vicinity, with the makeshift structure left damaged and displaced amid the debris scattered around the scene. A section of drainage close to the affected shops was also torn open in the chaos that followed the blast.
A combined team of personnel of the Federal Fire Service, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Fire Service, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps NSCDC, the National Emergency Management Agency NEMA and the Nigeria Police were promptly deployed to the scene, working through the morning to douse the flames and prevent the fire from spreading further into the busy commercial area.
The explosion triggered a heavy traffic gridlock along the corridor as commuters, motorcyclists and onlookers converged on the scene, with residents and passersby seen gathered behind cordons watching firefighters battle the blaze. Fire trucks lined the road for an extended stretch as personnel worked to clear the wreckage and secure the area.
The injured driver was said to have been rushed for medical attention following the crash, though further details on the extent of his injuries were not immediately available.
As of the time of filing, normalcy was gradually being restored to the axis while emergency responders have left the scene.