AT LEAST 94 people have been killed after an oil tanker exploded following a horror crash in Nigeria.
The driver lost control of the wheel on a busy highway in Jigawa as the tanker “somersaulted” in the air as fuel spilt across the road before erupting into a interrupting inferno.
GettyAn oil tanker up in flames[/caption]
Locals had gathered to collect the dropped fuel as the fire started – leaving almost 100 dead, police told CNN.
Another 50 are said to be seriously injured and receiving treatment in hospital.
Jigawa police spokesperson Shiisu Lawan Adam said: “The driver lost control and the tanker somersaulted and spilled fuel into a drainage ditch.
“As a result, residents rushed to scoop the fuel when the explosion happened.”
The death toll is expected to continue to rise from the blast.
The tragedy took place late on Tuesday evening at around 11:30pm in the northern Nigerian village of Majiyain, Jigawa.
The tanker driver lost control near to Khadija University and was heading towards Nguru in Yobe.
Flames and thick plumes of smoke continued to rise across the sky into the early hours of Wednesday.
The regions Commissioner of Police sent his condolences to those killed as he warned others to avoid the area.
A statement said: “The state’s commissioner of police, A.T Abdullahi, condoles with the people of Majia town and Jigawa in general for the great loss.
“Avoid the scene of any petrol tanker accident as it always results in death by fire.”
Those injured have been rushed to both Ringim and Hadejia General Hospitals for further treatment on their burns.
Fatal truck accidents are common across Nigeria.
In September, 48 people were killed after a fuel tanker collided with a large truck in Nigeria’s north-central Niger state.
Across 2020, 535 people died in petrol tanker crashes with another 1,142 people being left injured, according to Nigeria’s Federal Road Safety Corps.
In the same 12 month period there was 1,531 petrol tankers involved in major collisions.
Many experts say the worrying trend is because of poorly looked after roads, reckless driving and a lack of regular car maintenance.
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