Over 90 people die scooping fuel as tanker explodes in Rivers State

At least 90 people including women and children were burnt to death early today Thursday July 12th while scooping fuel from a fallen tanker at Okobe in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State. The fuel tanker crashed into some vehicles and fell, spilling its content

 but didn't immediately burst into flames. Unfortunately it exploded when residents of the area went to the scene to scoop fuel from the tanker.

Rivers State police spokesman Ben Ugwuegbulam explained:

Early this morning a tanker loaded with petrol fell in Okogbe and people trooped to the scene obviously to scoop the spilled fuel and suddenly there was fire resulting in casualties

A team of police officers, soldiers and emergency workers

were dispatched to the scene, where burnt bodies were removed.