By Bashir Aliyu
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Fire Service has confirmed that brake failure on a truck transporting Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) canisters caused the devastating explosions at Karu Bridge, Abuja, on Wednesday evening. The incident resulted in significant casualties and widespread destruction, with rescue operations still ongoing.
According to Ibrahim Mohammad, the Public Relations Officer of the FCT Fire Service, the truck, which was traveling from AYA toward Nyanya, lost control and collided with multiple vehicles on the route. The impact triggered a fire, leading to explosions and casualties.
“The truck lost control due to brake failure, rammed into several vehicles, and caused a fire that resulted in explosions. We are still conducting rescue operations to determine the exact number of casualties,” Mohammad said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
He explained that the severity of the incident required a thorough investigation, as some vehicles were completely burnt to ashes. Rescue teams are using searchlights to comb through the wreckage to ascertain whether individuals are trapped inside the charred remains.
“Once the search and rescue operation is concluded, we will be able to provide the exact number of casualties,” Mohammad assured.
The Federal and FCT Fire Services, alongside other emergency response agencies, are currently at the scene working to manage the situation and provide assistance to victims. The incident has caused significant gridlock in the area, with commuters stranded and traffic diverted to alternative routes.
This tragic event follows a similar incident earlier in the week, where the FCT Emergency Management Department (FEMD) confirmed that a CNG truck explosion at Karu Bridge caused chaos and multiple injuries. The recurrence of such incidents has raised concerns about the safety of transporting compressed natural gas and the need for stricter regulations to prevent future tragedies.
As rescue operations continue, authorities have urged the public to remain calm and avoid the area to allow emergency responders to work effectively. Further updates on the number of casualties and the extent of the damage are expected once the search operation is completed.
