More than 90 people lost their lives, and 50 others were injured after a gasoline tanker overturned in Nigeria, igniting a deadly explosion as crowds gathered to collect the fuel, police reported on Wednesday.
The tragedy took place shortly after midnight in the town of Majiya, Jigawa State, when the tanker driver lost control of the vehicle near a university, according to police spokesperson Lawan Adam.
Tanker accidents are frequent in Nigeria, where traffic regulations are often poorly enforced, and the country lacks efficient alternatives like a robust railway system for transporting goods. Due to rising fuel costs, it is also common for people to rush to accident sites to collect fuel.
In this case, residents flocked to the scene to salvage fuel, triggering a massive explosion that killed 94 people instantly, Adam said. Videos from the scene showed a large fire consuming the area, with bodies scattered around.
