A terrible tragedy occurred in Nigeria on Saturday January 18. At least 70 people lost their lives after a tanker truck exploded.
Unrecognizable victims
Saturday morning around 10 a.m., a tanker truck carrying 60,000 liters of gasoline had an accident Nigeriareports 20 Minutes.
According to a notice from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the nation’s highway safety agency, the fuel spilled onto the ground and several people rushed to pick it up. “But the tanker suddenly caught fire, engulfing another tanker with it“, she explained.
Kumar Tsukwam, the FRSC director for Niger state, confirmed that at least 70 people died in the explosion. “Most victims were burned beyond recognition“, he added.
An economic crisis
For a year and a half, the Nigeria is going through an economic crisis, marked by inflation above 30%.
This situation is the result of reforms initiated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in power since May 2023. Among these measures, the removal of fuel subsidies has led to a surge in food and transport prices.
Many Nigerians, plunged into precariousness, did not hesitate to risk their lives trying to recover fuel during this tragic accident.
> Also read: Tanker truck explosion kills dozens in Nigeria
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