At least 39 people have been killed in an oil tanker explosion in Nigeria's central Niger state after the vehicle skidded off the road and crashed, spilling fuel, an aid worker has told the BBC.
Another 60 people with varying degrees of injuries are currently receiving treatment at a hospital, said Abdullahi Baba Ara, head of the Niger state emergency service.
Villagers rushed to collect fuel from the overturned tanker which suddenly exploded, setting off a massive fire that engulfed them.
Tanker explosions are a recurring tragedy in Nigeria, despite repeated warnings about the dangers of collecting spilled fuel.
The intense blaze burned many victims beyond recognition, and the injured were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.
The accident occurred near the Essan and Badeggi communities along the Bida-Agaie road in the Katcha Local Government Area of Niger state.
Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago extended condolences to the victims’ families, describing the incident as worrisome, unfortunate, and pathetic. He emphasized the ongoing challenges of handling fallen tankers safely, due to a persistent public tendency to scoop spilled fuel.
The tanker was reportedly transporting petroleum products from Lagos in southern Nigeria to the north when it crashed, exacerbated by poor road conditions, which remain a significant contributor to road accidents in the country.
This is not the first major incident involving fuel tankers in Nigeria; similar explosions have claimed numerous lives over the years. In October of the previous year, a fuel tanker explosion in Jigawa state resulted in 153 fatalities, while another incident in January saw 86 people die when a truck carrying petrol overturned in Niger state.
