Abuja, Nigeria
CNN
—
A fuel tanker explosion in northern Nigeria killed 147 people and injured 70 others, according to emergency services and police.
The explosion occurred late Tuesday evening local time in Majia village, Jigawa state, after the car crashed and while local residents were trying to recover fuel.
“The driver lost control and the truck overturned, spilling fuel into a drainage ditch,” said Chisso Lawan Adam, Jigawa police spokesman.
“As a result, residents rushed to the fuel chambers when the explosion occurred.”
Adam added that a mass burial was conducted on Wednesday afternoon for the victims.
The death toll has been rising steadily since news of the deadly explosion emerged, with 147 people confirmed dead by Wednesday evening local time, according to a statement from Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency.
Nigerian Vice President Kashim Shettima mourned the victims in a statement on Wednesday, saying: “My heart aches for those whose families have been torn apart by this disaster.
“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 those injured and assist families affected by this disaster.
Shettima also announced “immediate intervention by the federal government and called for a comprehensive review of fuel transportation safety protocols.”
The explosion comes a month after at least 48 people were killed in a similar incident in north-central Niger state.
Fuel tank explosions are not unusual in Africa’s most populous country, where oil supplies are often sent by land.
Previous fires resulted in many casualties. In 2020, more than 500 people lost their lives in more than 1,500 fuel tanker accidents recorded that year, according to the Nigerian Road Safety Agency.
Trapped by the West African country’s high cost of living – where gasoline is scarce and expensive – residents often face the risk of extracting fuel from fallen tankers or damaged oil pipelines.
Gas prices have risen dramatically to more than six times their usual rate since the government ended fuel subsidies last year.
Poverty remains widespread in Nigeria despite its status as one of Africa’s largest oil producers.
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