Starting Wednesday, Niger is observing three days of mourning for 60 people who were killed in a tanker truck explosion on Sunday.
The interior ministry said that the days will pay tribute ‘to the memory of the victims of the tragic accident’ that occurred as crowds gathered around the overturned truck to collect fuel.
According to Interior Minister Mohamed Bazoum, the explosion was caused by a spark from one of the motorcycles that had gathered at the scene.
The massive explosion left the burnt truck’s wreckage, motorbikes and debris scattered over the road. Nearby houses were also damaged by the fire.
55 bodies were collected from the scene and 5 others succumbed to their injuries while receiving treatment in hospital.
Security official Hamani Adamou Abdoul-Aziz said that the death toll was expected to rise because several people had sustained severe, life-threatening burns.
