The death toll from Tuesday’s night deadly tanker explosion in Majiya village, Taura local government area of Jigawa State, has now crossed the 150 mark, new reports have shown.
Police authority in the state had earlier put the death toll at about 100, but new reports have now revealed that more bodies have been recovered from nearby bushes, taking the toll to 153.
Although most of the victims of the tragedy have been given mass burial, there were still concerns at the time of this report that the toll might increase even further with many more victims still suffering from acute to severe borns.
It was gathered that the wounded are receiving medical treatment across several hospitals in Jigawa and Kano states.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had directed relief agencies to provide medical supplies, food and shelter to the victims of one of Nigeria’s most deadly tanker explosions.
It was learnt that the incident occurred between the last hours of Tuesday and early Wednesday, 16 October, when the loaded tanker fell on its way to deliver products in a northern state.
The victims are believed to be villagers who swooped to scoop petrol from the fallen tanker before it exploded.
Jigawa Police spokesman DSP Lawal Shiisu Adams, confirmed the incident in a statement, saying, “Today (Wednesday) a petrol tanker from Port Harcourt going to Nguru in Yobe state reached Majiya village of Taura local government area at around 12:30 am the driver lost control at Majiya and fell.
“The content in the tanker flooded gutters and drainages in the village. The villagers started fetching the fuel where and the petrol caught fire and the tanker went up in flame.
“As a result, 95 people confirmed died and 50 have been hospitalised receiving treatment.”
