Metro
Many feared dead as explosion rocks CBN office [Updated]
Eighteen people are feared dead while many others sustained third degree burns in the explosion that engulfed at the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Calabar branch
The explosion, which happened at about 11.45 am, set the main edifice of the bank on fire, trapping staff and visitors in side. This was said to have been responsible for the high casualty.
A team of mobile policemen and soldiers assisted by personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps were deployed to the scene of the explosion to keep guard over the place with officials of the Federal and State Fire Services were putting out the fire and rescuing those trapped in the building.
“I cannot give exact figures of how many people are dead but many people were burnt beyond recognition while many sustained third degree burns; rescue operation is going on to ensure everyone is brought out soon”, a fire service official said.
Read also: 28 dead as deadly explosion rocks Ankara in Turkey
According to him, the source of the explosion is not known but it is speculated to be some locally made improvised device while some say it is the gas tank at the generator house that exploded.
Officials of the bank declined to speak of the incident, neither were they ready to disclose the likely source of the explosion.
The Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG Zone six, Mr Baba Bolanta, however said eighteen persons were casualty “but no death has been recorded”.
Ambulances from the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, UCTH, were deployed in conveying the dead and the injured out of the scene of the incident.
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