A catastrophic explosion occurred on Wednesday evening, in Abuja, leaving multiple commuters dead and several vehicles burnt.

The blast happened when a truck allegedly carrying Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) lost control and crashed into other vehicles at Kugbo Hill, near Karu Bridge, along the Abuja-Keffi Road.

Eyewitnesses reported that the accident occurred around 7:15 pm, resulting in a massive fireball that engulfed several vehicles. Many commuters were burnt beyond recognition, and at least six cars were razed. The exact number of fatalities is still unknown.

Emergency responders, including firefighters from the federal and FCT administrations, rushed to the scene to extinguish the inferno and rescue survivors.

Officials from the Federal Road Safety Corps, FCT Emergency Management Department (FEMD), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and other security operatives were also deployed to control the situation and provide assistance.

In a statement, the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas (PCNG) Initiative expressed deep sadness over the tragic incident and extended condolences to the victims’ families.

The PCNG office urged the public to await the outcome of a thorough investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident.