By Agbabuwe Precious
On Thursday, 17th October, a car exploded at a gas station located in Aduwawa, Benin City, Edo State. The explosion occurred while a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) powered vehicle was being filled.
Compressed Natural Gas is a fuel gas mainly composed of methane, stored and distributed in hard containers like cylinders. CNG can be used as a substitute for petrol, diesel fuel, and liquefied petroleum gas. It is commonly used in response to high fuel prices, a reality in Nigeria where fuel prices continue to rise.
In a video circulating online, the vehicle is seen severely damaged, while people around the vicinity ran for their lives as the loud sound from the explosion caused panic among residents. The explosion reportedly took place at the NIPCO filling station, located at Aduwawa, along the Benin-Auchi Expressway, Edo State.
Three persons were said to have sustained various degrees of injuries and have been rushed to a nearby private hospital for medical attention.