Nigerian officials say a fuel truck spill that ignited into a massive
blaze has killed 70 people, including many bus passengers and consumed
nine vehicles.
The accident happened Friday in southern Anambra state on the Onitsha-Enugu expressway in the Oyi Council area.
Authorities
say the petroleum truck was passing a section of the highway with deep
potholes when it served and overturned, spilling its contents onto the
roadway.
Witnesses say the spilled fuel exploded into a raging
fire that engulfed the vehicles, including the truck and at least five
buses.
Nigeria's This Day newspaper on Saturday quoted witnesses
who said bystanders stood helplessly as people trapped inside the
burning vehicles screamed for help.
Nigeria's roads are among
the most dangerous in the world because of large potholes, poorly
maintained vehicles and dangerous driving.
The head of
operations for Nigeria's Federal Road Safety Commission, Ben Ekenna,
warned that similar accidents will happen if roads are not improved.
Authorities say more than 4,000 people die every year in traffic-related accidents in the west African nation.
Officials
add the actual figure could be much higher because accidents in remote
rural areas are often not reported and villagers sometimes bury the
dead before authorities can arrive.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.