The death toll from a fuel tanker explosion in Nigeria’s Jigawa state on the night of October 15 has climbed to 181, Governor Umar Namadi said on Tuesday.
Namadi told the media that at least 80 injured individuals were hospitalized following the incident, which affected around 210 families. He added that the government is covering all the medical expenses of the victims.
A preliminary police report estimated the death toll at 170 with 70 injuries.
The explosion happened when a petrol-laden truck en route in Majiya, approximately 100 kilometers northeast of Kano, swerved to avoid a collision with another vehicle.
Following the accident, local residents gathered to collect fuel that had spilled onto the road and surrounding area. The vehicle then exploded, killing multiple people in the vicinity.
The authorities held a mass burial for the victims on the following day, October 16, in Majiya.