Panic broke out in the Garki Area 3 district of Abuja on Thursday night after a petrol-laden tanker exploded while discharging fuel at the AYM Shafa filling station.
The explosion triggered a massive fire that quickly spread to nearby structures, including a building reportedly belonging to the Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS).
According to eyewitness accounts cited by Daily Trust, the incident occurred at about 10:00 p.m. while the tanker was discharging Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, into the station’s underground storage tanks.
The sudden explosion sent flames into the night sky, forcing residents, motorists, workers and other people in the area to flee for safety.
An eyewitness said the fire spread rapidly after the tanker exploded during the fuel discharge operation.
FIREFIGHTERS DEPLOYED TO SCENE
The FCT Fire Service confirmed that firefighters had been deployed to the scene to contain the inferno.
Chief Superintendent of Fire, Ibrahim Muhammad Tauhid, described the incident as serious and confirmed that surrounding buildings had been affected.
“Our men are on the ground fighting the fire. It is a serious incident, and some of the surrounding buildings have been affected,” Tauhid said.
He also confirmed that some people were affected by the incident but said it was too early to establish the exact number of casualties or the extent of injuries.
EMERGENCY AGENCIES RESPOND
Personnel from the FCT Fire Service and Federal Fire Service reportedly worked to prevent the fire from spreading to additional buildings and businesses within the busy commercial district.
Emergency authorities also appealed to residents, motorists and onlookers to keep away from the affected area to allow firefighters and other emergency responders to operate safely and gain unhindered access to the scene.
The explosion comes amid longstanding concerns over safety measures surrounding the transportation, storage and handling of petroleum products, particularly during tanker loading and discharge operations.
INVESTIGATION EXPECTED
Authorities are expected to commence a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident after the site has been secured.
The investigation is expected to determine the immediate and underlying causes of the explosion and establish whether any safety procedures were breached during the fuel discharge operation.
As of the time of filing this report, authorities had not released an official figure on deaths or injuries resulting from the explosion.
AIV News will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as more verified information becomes available.
