Breaking News
Download App
:

Fuel tanker overturns, crowd gathers near oil spill, 147 perish in subsequent explosion

Scene of the deadly fuel tanker explosion in Majia, Jigawa state, Nigeria, where an overturned tanker led to an explosion, killing over 147 people. Emergency services and witnesses report the fire spread rapidly as the crowd attempted to collect the spilled fuel.

Fuel tanker

In Nigeria's northern Jigawa state, a tragic accident occurred when a fuel tanker overturned, reportedly due to the driver losing control of the vehicle. Following the accident, the fuel from the tanker spilled onto the ground, attracting a large crowd of people attempting to collect it. Unfortunately, an explosion ensued, leading to the death of over 147 people, according to Reuters.

This deadly incident unfolded in the city of Majia, where the tanker overturned on a highway. As people rushed to collect the leaking fuel, the tanker exploded, and many were caught in the blast. Eyewitnesses described how the fire spread rapidly, giving people little chance to escape. The head of Jigawa state's emergency services, Haruna Mariga, confirmed that the bodies of most of the victims could not be identified, and they were buried in a mass grave.

Fuel tanker accidents like this are common in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, where fuel shortages and high fuel prices are prevalent. Since the government removed gas subsidies in 2023, fuel prices have more than tripled, often leading to chaotic scenes following tanker accidents.

In 2020 alone, Nigeria recorded over 1,500 fuel tanker-related accidents, with 535 fatalities, as per the Federal Road Safety Corps. Despite the frequency of such incidents, few legal actions are taken, and families of victims often do not receive compensation. In a similar accident in September, at least 48 people died when a fuel tanker collided with a truck in north-central Nigeria.

This ongoing trend of fuel tanker disasters reflects the dangerous mix of poor road conditions, lack of proper safety enforcement, and the desperate scramble for fuel in a country facing chronic shortages.

Popular post

Latest post

You may also like

Subscribe Here

Enter your email address to subscribe to this website and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join Us