Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
A tanker has exploded after a crash in Nigeria, killing 77 people who rushed to get fuel from the scene, authorities said.
The tanker overturned and spilled its contents in the Suleja area of North Central Niger State on Saturday.
It exploded moments after people began collecting fuel, killing dozens and leaving 25 others injured, including rescue workers, officials said.
Fuel tanker explosions and accidents are common in the country – often caused by poor road conditions and poorly maintained vehicles.
Those injured in Saturday’s explosion are being treated at nearby hospitals, the emergency management agency said.
Nigeria has witnessed a number of such incidents in recent months.
Two weeks ago, a fuel tanker involved in an accident exploded in oil-rich Delta state, killing at least five people and at least 153 people died in an explosion while trying to collect leaking gasoline in October.
Fuel prices have increased by more than 400% in the past 18 months following Nigerian President Bola Tinubu’s bold economic policies, including the removal of long-standing fuel subsidies.
The changes left millions of people in poverty, with many forced to resort to desperate measures to survive.
The government has said its policies are aimed at strengthening the economy.
