ABUJA, Nigeria — The number of fatalities resulting from a gasoline tanker explosion in north-central Nigeria has tragically escalated to 86, as reported by the country’s emergency management agency on Sunday.

The incident occurred in the early morning hours of Saturday near the Suleja region in Niger state. It was triggered by the efforts of individuals who were trying to transfer fuel from a toppled oil tanker into another truck while utilizing a generator. This transfer ignited the explosion, causing numerous deaths among those involved in the gasoline transfer as well as innocent bystanders.

Hussaini Isah, a representative from the National Emergency Management Agency, informed the press that an additional 55 individuals have sustained injuries and are currently receiving medical care across three hospitals in the Suleja vicinity.

“There were individuals who were completely incinerated. How can we determine that number?” Isah remarked, implying that the official count of 86 casualties may in reality be higher. “We will not be able to ascertain the true figure until forensic evaluations are conducted.”

The explosion impacted a large number of people as a crowd had gathered at the location, which included onlookers, individuals capturing photos, and others eager to collect spilled gasoline, according to Isah.

In Nigeria, the most populous nation in Africa, gasoline prices have surged following the elimination of subsidies by President Bola Tinubu’s government over a year ago. This decision was made in an effort to redirect funds toward more developmental initiatives; however, it has led to significant hardship for many citizens.

The act of gathering fuel from a fallen tanker is a familiar sight in Nigeria, where some view it as an opportunity to acquire free gasoline for personal use or resale at a profit.