Death toll in Tuesday night’s petrol tanker tragedy in Jigawa State has risen to 147, just as 89 survivors continue to receive treatment in various hospitals for their injuries (burns) most of them critical.
Chairman of Taura Local Government Area, Alhaji Shu’aibu Hambali, confirmed the spike in fatality, Wednesday evening, while speaking on a local radio station, Arewa Radio.
The 147 victims have been given mass burial,” Hambali told journalists.
The Taura Local Government boss explained how the figures were arrived at, saying the bodies were counted just before the mass burial on Wednesday.
“About 74 injured persons are receiving treatment at different hospitals within and around the state, including, Ringim General Hospital among others in Bauchi and Yobe States respectively,” Hambali said.
Some of the injured persons taken to Dala Orthopedic Hospital and Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital in Kano, where they are currently receiving treatment.
On the cause of the tragedy, the Public Relations Officer of the Jigawa State Police Command, DSP Shiisu Adam, explained that the incident occurred at about 11:30 pm on Tuesday in Majiya Town, when the tanker driver was said to have lost control near Khadija University.
The tanker, the Police PRO continued, had departed Kano heading to Nguru town in Yobe State, when the driver suddenly lost control of the vehicle which fell on its side.
Shortly after, reports say, some villagers besieged the accident scene to scoop fuel. It was in the process that the tanker exploded, turning many into pillars of fire.