The number of victims affected by the gas explosion in Calabar, Cross River State, has risen to 60, health authorities have confirmed.
The State Commissioner for Health, Henry Ayuk, disclosed this during a visit to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital on Sunday, where victims of the explosion are receiving treatment.
The commissioner said the visit was to assess the condition of those injured in the incident and evaluate the medical response.
According to him, about 60 victims with varying degrees of burn injuries were receiving treatment at the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Department following the explosion which occurred along Edibe Edibe in Calabar South.
He added that victims with minor burn injuries would be transferred to the General Hospital, Calabar, to reduce pressure on the teaching hospital and ensure effective treatment for all patients.
The commissioner was accompanied by the Special Adviser to the Governor on General Duties, Ekpeyong Akiba, and they were received by the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Prof. Ikpeme Ikpeme, who briefed them on the condition and management of the victims.
The state government had earlier confirmed 30 victims on Saturday when Governor Bassey Otu visited the scene of the explosion and promised that the government would cover the medical bills of the victims.
The explosion was reportedly caused by a gas leak at a gas plant, which triggered a blast that affected nearby buildings and injured residents in the area.
The visit by health officials forms part of the state government’s emergency response, as authorities continue to monitor the victims and provide necessary medical care.
