| Submit your comments on this article |
| Africa Subsaharan |
| Breaking: Up to 500 killed in Lagos fuel blast |
| 2006-12-26 |
| LAGOS (Reuters) - Up to 500 people were burnt alive on Tuesday when fuel from a vandalised pipeline exploded in Nigeria's largest city, Lagos, emergency workers said. Hundreds of residents of the Abule Agba district went to scoop fuel using plastic containers after thieves punctured the pipeline overnight. "We are talking hundreds (dead). We are yet to confirm the death toll so we don't know if it is 300, 400 or 500," Red Cross secretary-general Abiodun Orebiyi said, adding that 60 people had been evacuated to hospital with serious burns. Hundreds of bodies, most burnt beyond recognition, were lying at the scene of the explosion as emergency workers tried to put out the fire. A Red Cross volunteer at the scene said: "A lot of people have been roasted. They are littered on the ground." |
| Posted by:.com |
| #6 African flambé! Get it while supplies last, not served year round. |
| Posted by: Chuck Darwin 2006-12-26 18:42 |
| #5 Fox News.com says it happened when thieves broke in and started trying to steal fuel from an open pipeline. No suprise. |
| Posted by: Charles 2006-12-26 18:31 |
| #4 Up to 500 killed in Lagos fuel blast worser than |
| Posted by: RD 2006-12-26 14:05 |
| #3 The picture painted is a bit more 'innocent' than I would expect. Good bet most of the victims were carrying jerry cans, either empty, on their way to the pipeline or full, on their way home. And a few more 'victims' were the ones who hot-tapped the pipeline, sold the fuel from the tap, and provided protection & enforcement. This happens many times a year across the country. Slow learners? |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2006-12-26 09:32 |
| #2 The Nigerian version of the capsized ferry. Note to Nogerians: When vandalizing the gasoline pipeline, no smoking please... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2006-12-26 09:02 |
| #1 Beeb: Lagos pipeline blast kills scores "More than 200 people have been killed in an oil pipeline explosion in Nigeria's commercial capital, Lagos, the Red Cross says. Officials say they are still counting bodies and it is feared the death toll could be much higher." |
| Posted by: .com 2006-12-26 08:48 |