As of the latest Nigeria Tanker Explosion news, the incident occurred on the night of October 15, 2024 in Jigawa state. A fuel tanker overturned and began leaking petrol after the driver lost control of the vehicle on a highway.
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As of the latest Nigeria Tanker Explosion news, Tuesday evening, a fuel tanker traveling through Majiya, lost control and overturned. The tanker was reportedly trying to avoid a collision with another vehicle on the road, which caused it to crash and spill fuel into a drainage ditch.
As is common in Nigeria, residents quickly gathered at the scene to retrieve the spilled fuel, unaware of the impending danger.
While the locals were collecting fuel, an explosion occurred triggering a massive fire that killed over 140 people instantly.
As of the latest Nigeria Tanker Explosion news, Initial reports showed that at least 105 people had been killed, but by Wednesday morning, the death toll had risen to over 140, according to official statements from police and emergency workers.
More than 70 people were injured in the blast, many of whom suffered severe burns and were rushed to nearby hospitals such as Ringim General Hospital for urgent medical attention.
Haruna Mairiga, the head of the Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency confirmed that 97 people were burned to ashes at the scene, with many others succumbing to their injuries later.
A mass burial was held for the victims on Wednesday morning. Families were left devastated as they gathered to mourn the loss of their loved ones.
Emergency responders including local police and the National Emergency Management Agency, worked tirelessly to retrieve the bodies from the scene and provide care for the injured.
As of the latest Nigeria Tanker Explosion news, Emergency services were dispatched to the scene after the explosion. Rescue teams faced challenges due to the situation compounded by the large number of people at the scene.
Authorities have detained the driver of the tanker, who was unharmed, as part of the investigation into the accident. Police spokesperson Lawal Shiisu Adam addressed that warnings were issued, but the crowd was difficult to control.
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As of the latest Nigeria Tanker Explosion news, Vice President, Kashim Shettima expressed his grief over the incident in a public statement. Shettima called for an urgent review of fuel transportation safety protocols to prevent disasters.
He assured the affected families that the Federal Government would mobilize all necessary resources to provide aid and assistance to the injured and bereaved.
In September 2024, just a month before the Jigawa explosion, 48 people died when a fuel tanker collided with another vehicle in Niger State.
In 2020, the country recorded over 1,500 fuel tanker accidents leading to the deaths of more than 500 people.
Fuel tanker accidents are common in Nigeria, largely due to poor road conditions and insufficient vehicle maintenance. Statistics reveal that over 1,500 tanker accidents occurred in Nigeria in 2020 alone resulting in 535 deaths.
Similar accidents have claimed numerous lives in the past including a September incident in Niger state where 59 individuals died following a collision involving a fuel tanker and a passenger lorry.
The World Health Organization has previously reported that Nigeria experiences a high number of road accident deaths, estimating around 40,000 fatalities per year due to road traffic incidents.
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