Eight Died, Many Injured As Nigeria Oil Tanker Explode

At least eight people were confirmed dead after a petrol tanker overturned and exploded in southern Nigeria, police said on Saturday. The death toll was feared to be higher by locals, who told the press that people will often take the risk of trying to scoop up petrol leaking from damaged tankers or pipelines.

Police spokeswoman Irene Ugbo had earlier told reporters that officers had recovered 12 corpses. She said 22 people were taken to a hospital with serious burns.

But one eyewitness countered that "the police only recovered a few corpses. Many of the other dead were burnt to ashes."