At least 18 people have been killed in a fuel tanker explosion in Nigeria, a West African country. Several others were injured in the incident.
The explosion occurred when the fuel-laden tanker lost control and collided with other vehicles. News agency Reuters reported this on Sunday (January 26).
According to Reuters, the explosion happened on Saturday in Nigeria’s southeastern Enugu state. The country’s National Road Safety Agency confirmed the deaths. Just a week earlier, another similar incident claimed nearly 100 lives.
Federal Road Safety Corps spokesperson Olusegun Ogungbemide said in a statement late at night that the truck experienced brake failure while on the road, causing the driver to lose control. The tanker then crashed into several vehicles on the expressway.
He stated that 10 people were rescued with injuries, while three others were rescued unhurt. Ogungbemide added, “Unfortunately, the 18 victims who died in the explosion were so severely burned that they could not be identified.”
Notably, fuel tanker explosions and road accidents are common in this West African country. Such incidents are often attributed to poorly maintained vehicles and bad road conditions.
Previously, in October last year, a fuel tanker overturned in northern Nigeria. While people were collecting fuel from the tanker, an unexpected explosion occurred, leading to a massive fire. At least 153 people were killed in that incident.