More than 140 people were killed and dozens injured when an overturned tanker exploded in flames in northwestern Nigeria, local emergency services said.
According to Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post (SCMP) on the 17th (local time), an accident occurred on the 16th (local time) when an overturned tank truck burst into flames and exploded in Majiya village, Zigwa State, northwest Nigeria.
As a result of this accident, more than 140 nearby residents who were trying to scoop out gasoline from an overturned tanker died and dozens more were injured, local emergency services said.
Noura Abdullahi, director of the National Emergency Management Agency, told The Associated Press that the death toll was likely at least 140, saying, “Close to 140 people were buried in mass graves, separate from those buried elsewhere.”
The media said, “Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa, and fatal tanker accidents are common,” and that the reason for this was “poor traffic regulations and a lack of a freight transportation rail system.”
He added, “After the Nigerian government stopped its gas subsidy policy last year, it became common for residents to scoop up buckets from tanker accident sites.”
Locals expressed their condolences by preparing a large cemetery for the victims on the 16th. Local emergency responders reported that most of the bodies were so burned to ash that they were unrecognizable.
In an interview with local media, resident Mairiga said, “If they had known (the risk of explosion), they would not have gone to get (fuel),” adding, “Emergency rescuers did not arrive until several hours after the accident.”
[서울=뉴시스]
-
- great
- 0dog
-
- I’m sad
- 0dog
-
- I’m angry
- 0dog
-
- I recommend it
- dog