At least 92 people killed after a petrol tanker crashed Nigeria :State police spokesman

"Early this morning a tanker loaded with petrol fell on the East-West road in Okogbe, and people trooped to the scene, obviously to scoop the spilled fuel, and suddenly there was fire resulting in casualties," a Rivers State police spokesman, Ben Ugwuegbulam, said.

At least 92 people have been killed after a petrol tanker crashed and caught fire in the Niger delta as people tried to scoop up fuel, according to reports.Nigeria is Africa's biggest oil producer.

He added that it was too early to give a precise casualty figure, but a Reuters witness at the scene counted 92 dead bodies of men, women and children.

Hundreds of people crowded around as soldiers and emergency workers lifted the dead and wounded into ambulances and police trucks.

Crashes are common on Nigeria's pot-holed roads. Most people live in the country on less than £1.50 a day, making the chance to collect spilling petrol a temptation, despite the risk of fires.

Niger delta petrol tanker was located on the East-West road, which runs across the oil-producing region, has been scheduled for development for almost a decade and money is allocated for it in the budget each year.Source: The Guardian