KEY POINTS
- 147 people were killed in the explosion.
- Villagers attempting to collect fuel were engulfed in flames.
- Poorly maintained roads are a leading cause of accidents in Nigeria.
According to police and state emergency services on Wednesday, a fuel tanker toppled late Tuesday in Jigawa, in northern Nigeria, after the driver lost control of the truck. The petrol spill later exploded, killing at least 147 people.
Tanker overturns and explodes after driver loses control
One of the bloodiest incidents in recent memory happened when the tanker, which was heavily filled with petrol, was travelling down a major road. Fuel gushed from the damaged truck when the driver lost control close to a bend of the road, forcing the tanker to slip off the highway and overturn. The fuel that had spilt ignited in a matter of seconds, causing a huge explosion and extensive damage.
The chief of Jigawa State Emergency Services, Haruna Mairiga, reports that 147 people have died as a result of the explosion and the fire that followed, but officials are concerned that the figure could increase if additional bodies are found. To evaluate the damage, assist survivors, and look for the missing, local authorities have been working nonstop. Given the severity of the disaster, Mairiga continued, a mass burial for the fatalities was conducted on Wednesday to avoid any more public health issues.
The tanker was travelling from Kano, an old commercial centre, to Yobe state when the driver lost control close to Majia town in the Taura local government area, around 330 miles north of Abuja, according to Lawan Shiisu Adam, a police spokesperson in the area. He pointed out that the region has badly maintained roads, just like many other parts of Nigeria. Infrastructure that was in disrepair, including potholes, and a lack of safety precautions contributed to the disaster.
Villagers rushed to collect spilled fuel before the fire ignited
According to witnesses, villagers hurried to the scene to pick up the petrol that had spilt quickly after the accident, . But the situation swiftly became fatal due to the gasoline’s extremely combustible nature. A brief spark that started a fire that quickly spread to everyone nearby caused the high death toll, Reuters reported.
50 more people were sent to local hospitals in Ringim and Hadejia for treatment after authorities determined that they had suffered severe burns and injuries. Due to the high number of casualties, medical staff are overburdened, and more resources are being requested to handle the situation.
Numerous roads are in poor condition, resulting in frequent collisions that take hundreds of lives every year. A large portion of the road network is in bad shape despite efforts to fix it due to issues including corruption and a lack of financing.
