At least 60 people died in northern Nigeria this Saturday (18) after a gasoline tanker truck overturned and spilled fuel that exploded, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said. Other people were injured, but a specific number has not yet been released.
The accident in Niger state follows a similar explosion in Jigawa state last October that killed 147 people, one of the worst tragedies of its kind in Africa’s most populous nation.
Kumar Tsukwam, FRSC sector commander for Niger state in the country’s western region, said most of the victims were poor local residents who rushed to collect spilled gasoline after the truck overturned.
“A large crowd of people gathered to collect the fuel despite concerted efforts to stop them,” Tsukwam lamented in a statement.
“Suddenly, the tanker burst into flames, hitting another tanker. So far, 60 corpses [foram] recovered from the scene.”
Tsukwam also reported that the fire has already been controlled by firefighters.
Fuel accidents have become common in Nigeria, which is Africa’s biggest oil producer, and often leave dozens of people dead.
The price of gasoline in Nigeria has soared more than 400% since President Bola Tinubu eliminated a decades-old subsidy when he took office in May 2023.
Bologi Ibrahim, spokesperson for the Niger state governor, said residents should prioritize their safety when gasoline tankers are involved in accidents.
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This content was originally published in Tanker truck explosion leaves at least 60 dead in Nigeria on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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