By Milcah Tanimu

In the early hours of Tuesday, panic ensued among residents and business owners in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, as a gas plant located in the Rumukurusi area caught fire. The incident, which occurred at approximately 5 am, led to an immediate response from firefighting teams, including those from the Federal Fire Service and Shell.

Upon waking up around 5:20 am, locals reported hearing shouts and witnessing a significant fire at the Hydropet Oil Services Limited gas facility. Grace, a shop owner in the vicinity, expressed fear, stating, “So I quickly came out to the road leading to Eneka, lo and behold, it was Hydropet gas plant that was on fire. The fire was huge. I was so afraid because my shop is close to that place.”

The Federal Fire Service personnel were on the scene by 9 am, working diligently to extinguish the flames. A resident mentioned that the Shell Fire Services played a crucial role in controlling the fire, preventing a potentially catastrophic explosion. The fire, which lasted for about four hours, prompted concerns among onlookers about safety and the possibility of further incidents.

Scores of policemen and fire service teams cordoned off the area, restricting access to roads leading to the scene of the incident. While many residents gathered to observe the firefighting efforts, worries lingered about the aftermath and the potential impact on the surrounding community.

The Police Public Relations Officer for the State, Grace Iringe-Koko, assured that more details would be provided as authorities assessed the situation. Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the fire and evaluate the extent of the damage to the gas plant and its surroundings.