No fewer than 58 people have died on RN1, a road that links the Diori Hamani international airport to Niamey, the capital of Niger Republic, after a fuel tanker overturned and exploded in the area.
Most of the victims were scooping fuel from the overturned truck before it caught fire and exploded.
The incident took place late Sunday night on the highway linking Niger’s Diori Hamani international airport to the capital Niamey.
Interior Minister Mohamed Bazoum said 55 charred bodies were recovered from the scene while 37 were being treated in nearby hospitals.
A presidency statement released later on Monday said three victims had since succumbed to their wounds, raising the death toll to 58.
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