Nigeria
At least 50 people were killed in Nigeria when fuel from a crashed truck that they were siphoning up caught fire, a spokesman for the governor in central Benue state said on Tuesday.
“A tanker loaded with fuel fell yesterday (Monday) and people were scooping its products when it caught fire, killing over 50 persons,” the spokesman said. Others were badly injured and taken to hospital.
Such incidents are relatively common in Nigeria, though rarely is the death toll so high. While fuel is cheap, many live in extreme poverty.
Last October, 60 people were killed when a spill at an oil pipeline in the southeast caught fire.
REUTERS
01:00
Egypt: Seven dead, 125 injured in collision between two trains
Go to video
Atiku’s candidacy in doubt after Nigerian court ruling
00:51
Nigeria's Dangote looks to expand IPO access to exchanges across Africa
00:52
Tenerife footballer Jesús De Miguel dies aged 30 after match collision
01:09
Ebola fatality rate in DR Congo tops 50% as death toll reaches 5,372
02:20
Lagos Fashion Week returns for 15th edition with a commitment to sustainability