At least 94 people were killed in northern Nigeria on Tuesday when a fuel truck exploded. The tanker crashed, causing locals to get fuel from the tank. The vehicle then exploded.
In addition to the dozens of deaths, fifty people were injured. Local authorities expect the death toll to rise further.
“The driver lost control and overturned the tanker, spilling fuel into a drainage ditch,” a local police spokesman told CNN . The driver reportedly swerved to avoid hitting another vehicle. Citizens rushed to the scene to get fuel from the tanker. The vehicle then exploded.
The incident happened on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday in a village in the Nigerian state of Jigawa. “This is a heartbreaking moment for all of us,” said the police chief. “We share the pain and sorrow of the affected families. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the bereaved.”
At the same time, the police chief called for greater awareness of the dangers of explosions in such incidents. Explosions from fuel trucks are common in Nigeria. Some roads in the country are poorly maintained and residents try to collect fuel after accidents involving fuel trucks.
