No fewer than 100 persons have been confirmed dead in the petrol tanker explosion in Majiya town in Taura Local Government Area of Jigawa State which occurred early Wednesday.
According to reports, the driver, travelling from Kano to Nguru in Yobe State, lost control of the vehicle near Khadija University, Majiya.
Spokesman of Jigawa State Police Command, Lawan Adam, said the explosion was triggered by residents who rushed to collect petrol after the tanker overturned.
“The residents were scooping fuel from the overturned tanker when the explosion occurred, sparking a massive inferno that killed 94 people on the spot,” Adam said earlier.
“The incident left another 50 people severely injured, who were then rushed to Ringim and Hadejia General Hospitals for treatment.”
Later in the day, he told PUNCH that the death toll had risen to 105.
According to him, 55 people who were injured due to the blast are being treated.
“As I am talking to you now, the casualty figure is about 105 and the number of injured is 55 as against the 50 earlier confirmed,” he said.
It was also gathered that some injured persons have also been taken to Federal Medical Centre Birnin Kudu due to the limited number of beds at Ringim General Hospital.
Preparations are currently being made to give the dead persons a mass burial given that the majority were burnt beyond recognition.
