Nigeria’s death toll from fuel tanker explosion reaches 70
Nigerian newspaper Vanguard said that a late May accident of a fuel tanker led to an explosion and fire in a people-packed area in Onitsha, causing 70 deaths.
The accident occurred as a petrol tanker lost control and run into a bus station, according to the report. Buses and motorcycles were destroyed during the fire.
Back in 2012 in another accident 100 people burnt to death also due to a fuel tanker fire. Allegedly, the people died as they were trying to pick up the fuel in canisters for their own use, according to a separate report by Agence France Presse.
More than 100 people burnt and died in July 2012 in southern Rivers state in a fire that occurred aafter a petrol tanker tipped over and spilled fuel on the asphalt, AFP added.
