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Africa Subsaharan
At least 55 dead after fuel tanker truck explodes near crowd
2019-05-07
[ABCNEWS.GO] Authorities in the West African nation of Niger say at least 55 people are dead after a tanker truck filled with fuel went kaboom! near the country's main airport.

President Issoufou Mahamadou called the kaboom a "national tragedy" after visiting a hospital where dozens were maimed, some with serious burns. The corpse count was expected to rise as doctors said some were at death's door.

Authorities believe the kaboom took place after the tanker truck flipped over near a gas station.
Do tanker trucks regularly flip? I don’t recall ever seeing such a thing, but admittedly I’ve led a sheltered life in which tanker trucks to do not feature prominently.
A crowd of people came to try and collect the fuel that leaked out as a result of the accident.

Scores of people have died in similar accidents in West Africa as impoverished people risk their lives to collect fuel leaking from pipelines or trucks.
Posted by:Fred

#5  I've never been to Niger, but while I'd expect roads to/from the airport to be pretty decent, a little distance away you might find the edge of the pavement to be badly eroded. And if the road isn't paved, not only can the potholes be substantial, but I've seen gulleys cut across the road.

We dreaded hearing the sirens of an entourage (never saw a firetruck go by), because you had to get off the road to let it pass. If the lip between the road and the rest was only 3-4 inches, all was well, but it might be more--and consequently hard to get back on the road.
Posted by: james   2019-05-07 10:33  

#4  Taankers have a very high center of gravity. I don't believe African roads are noted for the stability of their shoulders, if any.
Posted by: Fred   2019-05-07 09:57  

#3  Authorities believe the kaboom took place after the tanker truck flipped over near a gas station.

The victims were probably inside buying lotto tickets.
Posted by: Besoeker   2019-05-07 07:35  

#2  stealing fuel?
Posted by: chris   2019-05-07 07:28  

#1  A golden half hour few seconds of Huell:
"Well, wowser, a bowser! Spilled fuel!
Folks, this is amaaazing!
That stuff's really blazing.
Ow! Wowww, how undousably coooool!"
Posted by: Waldemar Thravigum5669   2019-05-07 07:18  

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