Firefighters try to extinguish a blaze in a northern suburb of Lagos, 15 May 2008

Red Cross officials say about 100 people in the Nigerian city of Lagos have been killed in a fire triggered by a ruptured oil pipeline.

Witnesses say fuel from the pipeline ignited a blaze that engulfed many homes in a Lagos suburb Ijegun Thursday.

A Red Cross official says about 100 people are confirmed dead and that 20 others have been taken to hospitals for injuries.

The relief group says the pipeline was pierced by a piece of heavy machinery being used on a road project. It was not immediately clear how the fuel caught fire.

Pipeline fires occur relatively often in Nigeria, Africa's biggest oil producer. Some are caused by poor maintenance, while others happen when thieves damage the pipelines while trying to siphon off oil to sell on the black market.

At least 40 people died in a pipeline fire on the outskirts of Lagos in December.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.