At least 105 people have been confirmed dead following a catastrophic petrol tanker explosion in Majiya, Taura Local Government Area of Jigawa State.
The tragic incident, which occurred late Tuesday night, has left the community in shock, with 55 others severely injured and currently receiving treatment.
Shiisu Adam, the Public Relations Officer of the Jigawa State Police Command, confirmed the casualty figures in a telephone conversation with PUNCH on Wednesday.
“As I am talking to you now, the casualty figure is about 105 and the number of injured is 55, as against the 50 earlier confirmed,” Adam stated.
The explosion, which took place around 11:30 pm, happened when the tanker, reportedly carrying petrol, lost control near Khadija University in Majiya town.
Eyewitnesses reported that the tanker was en route from Kano to Nguru town in Yobe State when the driver lost control of the vehicle, causing it to explode.
“It was a horrific sight,” one resident shared. “The tanker overturned and exploded, and before we knew it, the fire had spread rapidly.” The blast attracted several residents who rushed to the scene in an attempt to scoop fuel, an action that tragically led to many fatalities.
The injured victims were first taken to Ringim General Hospital, but due to the severity of the incident and the limited medical capacity at Ringim, some of the critically injured were later transferred to the Federal Medical Centre in Birnin Kudu for better care.
“The hospital was overwhelmed,” a health worker at Ringim General Hospital revealed. “We had to quickly transfer some patients to Birnin Kudu due to the shortage of beds.”
Given the scale of the tragedy, authorities have begun making arrangements for a mass burial for the deceased, most of whom were burnt beyond recognition. “It is a painful situation, especially for families who may not be able to identify their loved ones,” a local official lamented.
