100 Dead in Nigeria Fuel Truck Fire

VOA Breaking News (Voice of America)
July 12, 2012 at 11:40 am (UTC-4)

At least 100 people were killed after a gasoline tanker crashed in southern Nigeria and exploded.

A VOA reporter on the scene says the truck, carrying about 33,000 liters of fuel, collided with another vehicle in southern Rivers state Thursday. Authorities say most of the victims rushed to the scene to scoop up the spilled fuel before the tanker caught fire.

The blast injured at least 18 people.

Rivers state is located in Nigeria's southern oil-producing Niger Delta region.

Vehicle crashes are common in the country, where many of the roads are in extremely poor condition.