Injured victims in Calabar gas explosion rise to 60

The number of persons injured in the gas explosion that rocked Calabar, Cross River state, on Saturday has risen to 60, health authorities have confirmed.

Henry Ayuk, the state commissioner for health disclosed this on Sunday during an assessment visit to the university of Calabar teaching hospital, where victims are currently receiving treatment.

Ayuk said, “we arrived at the accident and emergency department of UCTH, where about 60 victims of the gas explosion that occurred along Edibe Edibe, Calabar South, are receiving treatment.”

He explained that the visit was aimed at evaluating the condition of the injured and the response of medical personnel.

According to him, victims with minor burn injuries would be transferred to the general hospital, Calabar, to ease pressure on the teaching hospital and ensure effective care.

The commissioner was accompanied by Ekpeyong Akiba, the special adviser to the governor on general duties and was received by Prof. Ikpeme Ikpeme, the chief medical director of UCTH who briefed the team on the management of the casualties.

Governor Bassey Otu had earlier put the number of victims at 30 during a visit to the scene on Saturday, assuring that the state government would cover the medical bills of those affected.

The explosion, reportedly caused by a gas leak at a plant, impacted several homes in the Edibe Edibe area of Calabar South, leaving dozens with varying degrees of burns.