PH
18 people were killed while others sustained various degrees injuries in an inferno at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) following an explosion at the premises of the Bank located at Calabar Road by the Millennium Park, Cross Rivers state.
The explosion which took place at about 11.45 am set the main edifice of the bank on fire trapping many staff and visitors which occasioned for the high casualty fire.
A team of mobile policemen and soldiers assisted by nurses and personnel of the Nigeria Security and civil defense Corps were seen keeping guard over the place while officials of the Federal and State Fires Services were putting out the fire and rescuing those trapped in the building.
An official of the Federal Fire Service at the Calabar Airport said 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.
Ambulances from the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, UCTH and General Hospital Calabar were brought in to evacuate the dead and those injured while rescue efforts were being made to extricate those still trapped inside.
