At least 94 people have been killed following a fuel tanker explosion in northwestern Nigeria, police confirmed on Wednesday.
According to Police spokesman, Lawan Adamu, the explosion happened along the Kano-Hadejia expressway in the Taura Local Government Area of Jigawa State.
Adamu explained that the incident took place on Tuesday night when a fuel-laden truck overturned, causing a massive fire that burned into the early hours of Wednesday.
“The residents were scooping fuel from the overturned tanker when the explosion occurred, sparking a massive inferno that killed 94 people on the spot,” DSP Adamu explained.
The explosion left about 50 persons severely wounded. Rescue responders took them to Ringim and Hadejia General Hospitals for treatment.
Authorities have begun mass burials for the victims, with the community in mourning.
Some residents explained that people rushed to the site of the accident where the truck had tipped over and spilled its contents, to scoop fuel. The high number of casualties was a result of this dangerous action near the overturned truck.