The explosive blast in the Nigerian city of Ibadan, claiming two lives and injuring 77, resulted from illegally stored explosives, according to the governor of Oyo state.
The incident impacted seven suburbs of the country’s third most-populous city.
As rescue operations persist, crowds gather at the blast site. A man reports that his mother, whose home was destroyed, was in bed during the explosion and is currently hospitalized.
“The roof and everything went down. She was inside in her bed when it happened. She was rushed to the hospital naked and I’m going there now,” he told the BBC as he was rushing to see her.
Buildings near the blast site have been nearly reduced to rubble, and vehicles lay in ruins. In areas farther from the blast, houses have had windows blown out, and rooftops suffered damage.
Eyewitnesses report that the explosion occurred at approximately 19:45 local time (18:45 GMT) in Bodija, a residential district in the city. The impact was felt across Ibadan, the capital of Oyo state in the southwest.
Among the onlookers is a painter who had been working at one of the collapsed buildings. Arriving at work in the morning, he is now unable to locate his boss.
“I have been calling him but the number is not connecting and I saw that his vehicle has been destroyed,” he told the BBC.
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo promised that those in charge would be “brought to book” in a Facebook statement.
“I have directed that the medical bills of all victims be covered by the government,” he said.
“We will also be providing temporary accommodation for those whose houses were affected and ensuring that they are supported to rebuild their lives.”