Death toll from Niger petrol tanker explosion rises to 59

The death toll from a petrol tanker explosion after colliding with another vehicle has risen to 59.

The incident occurred on Sunday along the Lapai-Agaie road, about 2 kilometers from Dendo Community in Agaie LGA, Niger State. The petrol tanker collided head-on with another truck carrying over 60 people and 50 cows from Kano to Lagos.

Abdullahi Baba-Arab, director-general of the Niger State Disaster Management Agency, confirmed the latest information in a statement on Monday, noting that the death toll could rise as the evacuation process continues.

Read also: Nurses, others kidnapped as bandits attack Kaduna hospital

“The death toll has risen to 59. We lost one victim of first-degree burns at the Federal Medical Center in Bida,” Baba-Arab said. “Two locals were taken to a nearby village for burial, and the rest were found during the evacuation. It is also possible that more bodies will be found during the continued evacuation process,” he added.

Kumar Tsukwam, Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission Niger State, explained that the petrol tanker, which was travelling from Lagos, was speeding and lost control before the accident.

“A tanker truck from Lagos on its way to Kano carrying fuel was speeding, lost control, crashed and caught fire. Another truck carrying cattle and people also caught fire, and two other vehicles were behind. All four vehicles were burnt to ashes,” Tsukwam said.

He also reported that the trailer carrying humans and cattle was alerted by a passenger to the fire in front of it, but the driver initially dismissed it as a tire fire.

“Upon reaching the burning tanker, the trailer also caught fire, causing the fire to spread to the other two vehicles. This resulted in 35 people dying instantly, while two others who were injured later died in hospital, bringing the total number of casualties to 37,” Tsukwam explained.

Death toll rises to 59 in Niger petrol tanker blast first appeared on Latest Nigeria News | Headlines from Ripples Nigeria.