Gas tanker explosion kills 6 in Nigeria

By Kabir Adeniyi

LAGOS, Nigeria (AA) — Six people were killed and several motorists injured when a gas tanker exploded in Abuja, Nigeria, on Wednesday evening, officials say.

The accident happened on Karu Bridge, where a compressed natural gas (CNG) truck lost control and crashed into another truck, triggering a massive fire that engulfed surrounding vehicles.

Eyewitnesses described a harrowing scene, with people scrambling to escape the spreading flames. Following the tragic event, the officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) collaborated with other partners, including the police and Road Safety Corps, to extinguish fires, extricate trapped individuals, and evacuate the injured to hospitals.

“The crash involved 16 cars and two trucks. Six fatalities were confirmed, while the number of injured persons is yet to be determined. The injured victims were taken to National Hospital, State House Clinic, Karu General Hospital, and Customs Clinic Karu for medical attention,” NEMA said in an official statement on Thursday.

The agency added that a major challenge during the response was traffic and crowd control, which caused delays in accessing the scene, especially for the ambulance.

The latest incident marks the 10th explosion in Nigeria since the beginning of the year.