Cross River Gov Visits Scene of Gas Explosion, Pledges Swift Support for Victims

Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State has visited the site of the gas fire explosion that occurred on Saturday morning at Edibe Edibe in Calabar South Local Government Area, describing the incident as shocking and assuring victims of immediate government support.

The governor assessed the level of damage on Saturday evening and expressed deep concern over the scale of destruction, noting that both lives and property had been affected.

“What I have seen here is shocking. It is a huge, huge damage. The scale of destruction caused by the explosion is really huge,” Otu said.

He also raised concerns about the location of such facilities within residential areas, emphasising the need for stricter safety measures to prevent future tragedies.

“I know very well this kind of facility should not be in a residential area, but unfortunately, this one is here. I believe that steps must be taken to prevent this kind of occurrence in the future,” the governor stated.

Otu revealed that several victims are currently receiving treatment in hospitals, while many homes have been destroyed or severely damaged. He assured that the state government would act swiftly to support affected residents.

“We have several casualties in the hospital, and people’s houses have been damaged. Government is going to act quickly,” he said.

The governor further announced that the state would provide free medical treatment for all victims and would consider compensation for those who suffered property losses.

“We will take care of them. We are providing free medical treatment for those affected and will also look into compensation to help them return to their normal lives as quickly as possible,” Otu said.

Meanwhile, a victim, Mrs. Rosa Asuquo, recounted her ordeal and called for urgent government assistance, alleging that efforts to reach the fire service during the emergency were unsuccessful.

“While I was away, my children called me to say that there was a fire outbreak. When I got here, everything was already in chaos. I tried calling the fire service, but there was no response. There was no rescue until the fire went out by itself,” she lamented.

Mrs. Asuquo also highlighted the extent of the losses, noting that several properties were destroyed and many people injured. She appealed to the government to strengthen emergency response systems to prevent future incidents.

“Several properties have been destroyed and many people injured. I am appealing to the State government to assist affected residents and strengthen emergency response systems. This incident that occurred around No. 69 Edibe Edibe has left many residents in distress,” she added.