ABUJA, Oct 23 (NNN-XINHUA) — The death toll from last week’s gasoline tanker explosion in Nigeria’s northern state of Jigawa has risen to 181, said the state governor Umar Namadi.
Namadi told reporters that at least 80 more people were hospitalized after the gasoline tanker lost control and flipped over in Majiya, a town in the Taura local government area, on the night of Oct 15.
He said 210 families were affected by the explosion and most of the victims were people who rushed to the scene to scoop gasoline spilled into a drainage ditch after the tanker overturned.
He noted that the state government had paid the medical bills for all victims and is working to ensure the affected families “continue their livelihoods.”
A mass burial was held for the victims on Oct 16 in Majiya.
In response to the tragedy, a high-level committee has been established to investigate the root causes of the explosion and recommend preventive measures to avoid future incidents. — NNN-XINHUA
