A petrol tanker explosion at AYM Shafa filling station in Garki Area III, Abuja, caused panic among residents and motorists on Thursday night after the fire spread within the area.
The incident happened while the tanker was offloading petrol into the station’s storage facility, leading to a massive fire that quickly spread around the filling station and affected nearby structures.
The explosion, which occurred close to Apo Bridge and Rita Lori Hotel, created fear among people in the area as motorists and residents rushed away from the scene to avoid danger.
Reports showed that the fire reached a nearby building belonging to the Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS), causing damage to parts of the property.
Emergency teams from the Federal Fire Service and the FCT Fire Service responded to the scene and began efforts to control the flames.
Firefighters worked to stop the fire from spreading further to other buildings and facilities around the area.
An official of the FCT Fire Service confirmed that firefighters were deployed to manage the situation, adding that some nearby buildings were affected by the incident.
The number of people affected by the explosion had not been fully confirmed at the time of reporting, as emergency workers were still assessing the situation and battling the fire.
Security personnel and emergency responders remained around the location, while residents and motorists were advised to stay away from the area to allow rescue operations to continue.
Authorities are expected to provide more details on the cause of the explosion, casualties and the level of damage after investigations are completed.
