Fear gripped the residents of Kubwa, Bwari Area Council of the FCT, Abuja on Sunday morning, when a huge fire broke out leading to explosions around the Liberty Junction of Byazhin community.
Residents said they woke up to huge explosions and plumes of smokes bellowing into the skies sending shockwaves in the neighbourhood. The quick arrival of the Federal Fire Service Area 10 Garki Abuja saved the day. They fought valiantly to bring the raging fire under control, much to the relief of residents.
“I was still sleeping when I heard my mum screaming my name to come out immediately. The urgency in her voice startled me and by the time I was outside our estate, a crowed had gathered watching the raging inferno,” Hamdallah Abdulhamid, a resident of Byazhin told The Lantern News. “It was a scary scene, and everywhere was smoky and red,” she said.
Another resident, Ms Tamtam Omegie who spoke to our correspondent said the fire was caused by a car that rammed into a roadside cooking gas vendor at the Liberty junction while driving against traffic.
The ensuing fire caused series of explosions from the gas cylinders and the car, impacting on the surrounding structure.
Omegie said: “We learnt that a car coming from the wrong side of the road (one way) was trying to avoid an oncoming tricycle, popularly called Keke NAPEP, and lost control, ramming into a roadside cooking gas shop which ignited a fire.”
She commended the firefighters for their prompt response, saying their timely intervention prevented the fire from spreading to a nearby paint factory and adjoining residential buildings, which could have resulted in a major disaster.
The Lantern News correspondent who visited the scene, reported seeing charred remains of the car, as men of the fire service struggled to put out the fire while a crowed of residents formed a ring around them.
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