Officials in Nigeria’s Benue state in central part of the country say more than 40 people have died in an oil tanker explosion.
There are reports of over 60 people also sustaining injuries in the explosion which happened on Monday.
A spokesman for the governor in central Benue state told Reuters that “A tanker loaded with fuel fell yesterday (Monday) and people were scooping its products when it caught fire, killing over 50 persons.”
Local media reported that an oil tanker overturned on a highway leading to the state capital, Makurdi.
As often done by locals they gathered to collect fuel that was leaking from the vehicle despite warnings.
An eyewitness was quoted by one local news outlet as saying that “You know that tankers are always partitioned in drums. So, the people went to the scene of the accident to scoop fuel.
In the process of scooping fuel, there was an explosion, which resulted in several people being burnt to death.”
There was also a report of a commercial bus with many passengers driving through the the accident scene.
Passengers on board that bus were also killed in the explosion.
Benue state police spokesperson Catherine Anene told the Punch that “a fuel tanker fell on the road and that the villagers ignored the warnings of the security men and in the process, there was an explosion; many people were injured and rushed to hospital in Aliade.”
Fuel tanker explosions are common in parts of Africa.
In May this year a fuel tanker lorry also overturned and exploded near the airport in Niger’s capital, Niamey, killing at least 58 people.
Many of the victims had gathered to collect fuel after the vehicle overturned close to railway tracks as it tried to park.
Source: Africafeeds.com
