Nigeria petrol tanker fire kills 95

Niger Delta, Nigeria, 13 Jul – (ANA) - At least 95 men, women and children were killed yesterday in Nigeria after a petrol tanker crashed and caught fire as people crowded around it to try and scoop up fuel, officials said.

Fuel tanker crashes are common on Nigeria's poorly maintained roads, and in a region where most people live on less than $2 a day the chance to collect spilt petrol was too much of a temptation, despite the high risk of fires.

"The tanker driver was trying to avoid a head-on collision with two oncoming vehicles. He lost control and spilled its contents," said Ben Ugwuegbulam, a Rivers State police spokesman.

"The villagers trooped out to scoop the spilled fuel. The driver even warned them to leave the scene and suddenly there was fire ... the casualty figure is 95 bodies, while many more are receiving treatment in hospital."

The National Emergency Management Agency also said 95 people had been killed, adding that 18 were injured and in hospital. (ANA)

FA/ANA/13 July 2012-----------