A fuel tanker exploded overnight in northern Nigeria, k!lling at least 153 people who rushed to the scene of the accident to collect leaking petrol, officials say.
The fire engulfed the overturned vehicle, which had been cordoned off by officers after it crashed in Jigawa state, the police told the BBC.
About 100 other people inj_red in the explosion have been taken to hospitals in the region, many of them in critical condition.
Officers had warned people not to approach the tanker after the accident late on Tuesday night, but they were unable to contain the growing crowd, said police spokesman Lawal Shiisu Adam.
“We tried our best to stop people going to the vehicle to get petrol but despite cordoning [off] the area, we were overpowered and as people were scooping fuel, fire erupted,” he told the BBC.
The crash happened in the town of Majia at around 23:30 local time (22:30 GMT), he said.
“The fuel tanker was coming from Kano and heading to Nguru in Yobe state when the driver lost control of the vehicle.”
The driver, who was not inj_red, has been taken into custody while the police conduct an investigation.
A distressing video has been shared on social media showing the moments after the fire erupted.
“Fire service and other emergency units rushed to the scene to help after the incident,” Mr Adam said.
Many of the victims have been burnt beyond recognition. The recovered bodies have been covered by tree branches to shield them from onlookers.
Rescue workers have been finding more bodies – some a considerable distance from the scene of the accident. They had presumably been trying to get help before succumbing to their inj_ries, a police spokesman told the BBC.
