A car rammed into a gas store on Arab Road in Kubwa, Abuja, at approximately 6:15 a.m. on Sunday, triggering a powerful explosion that shook buildings as far as two kilometres from the scene.
Residents of Dantata Estate, located about two kilometres away, said the impact was felt in their buildings as they vibrated from the force of the blast.
“The explosion was loud enough to wake people from their sleep, and we could feel the buildings shaking. Everyone was wondering what had happened,” one resident said.
The driver of the vehicle and a child were rescued from the scene and taken to hospital for treatment. The vehicle involved in the crash was completely destroyed in the resulting fire. Nearby shops were also affected by the inferno, and shelter stands and signposts at the adjacent Liberty Junction were damaged in the incident.
Security operatives and firefighters were on the ground working to restore normalcy when journalists arrived at the scene. A large crowd had gathered, obstructing vehicular movement along the road. The early morning timing likely reduced what could have been a far heavier casualty toll.
