147 dead, many injured in Nigerian fuel tanker crash, explosion and fire

Oct. 16 (UPI) -- A crashed fuel tanker exploded Tuesday night in northern Nigeria, killing 147 people and injuring many others who had gathered around the overturned vehicle to gather leaking gasoline, the West African nation's emergency management agency 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," Jigawa police spokesperson Shiisu Lawan Adam said.

The injured, many in critical condition, were taken to hospitals in Ringim, Hadejia, Jahun and Birnin Kudu, the National Emergency Management Agency said in a statement.

According to emergency officials, the tanker carrying gasoline ignited at about 11:30 p.m. local time Tuesday.

NEMA Director General told local news that many of the deceased were those who had gathered around the tanker to collect spilled gasoline when the explosion occurred. She added that casualties also included bystanders and onlookers.

"What happened today is really tragic and quite unfortunate," she said.

A mass burial was conducted Wednesday, she added.

Police tried to keep people away from the crashed tanker, but were unable to stop them.

"We tried our best to stop people going to the vehicle to get petrol but despite cordoning the area we were overpowered and as people were scooping fuel, fire erupted," Adam told the BBC.

Vice President Kashim Shettima has called for immediate government intervention and called for a comprehensive review of fuel transportation safety protocols across the country.

"This devastating incident has shaken us all to our core. The Federal Government stands with the people of Jigawa. We are mobilizing all necessary resources to support the injured and assist the families affected by this calamity," Shettima said in a statement.

Fuel tanker explosions are common in Nigeria due to bad roads and poorly maintained transport vehicles.

In September, 59 people were killed when a fuel tanker hit a truck carrying both passengers and cattle.

In 2020, more than 500 people were killed in over 1,500 fuel tanker accidents that year, according to the Nigerian government road safety agency.