Close to 100 dead in explosive fuel tanker blast in Nigeria

gasoline tanker blast in Nigeria

By Emmanuel Akyereko

Ninety-eight people have been confirmed dead and several others have sustained multiple degrees of injuries when a gasoline tanker truck blasted in north central Niger during the weekend.

The tragic incident happens when locals rushed to the scene with generators to siphon fuel from the tanker, triggering the explosion which left a devastating situation in the city which is close to Abuja.

At least three times in recent months, tanker explosions in Nigeria have caused dozens of deaths.

According to sources and eyewitnesses, the majority of the victims had gathered around the tanker scooping spilled fuel when the unfortunate incident occurred.

NEMA, the Nigerian Emergency Management Agency, has confirmed in a statement that over 50 people sustained various degrees of burns in addition to the 98 people who have died from the accident.

The victims are currently undergoing medical treatment at various local hospitals in Nigeria.