Image copyright AFP Image caption People had gathered to collect fuel from the tanker when it exploded

A fuel tanker lorry has overturned and exploded near the airport in Niger's capital, Niamey, killing at least 58 people, authorities say.

Many of the victims had gathered to collect fuel after the vehicle overturned close to railway tracks as it tried to park.

Another 37 people were injured in the explosion late on Sunday evening.

President Mahamadou Issoufou has travelled to visit some of the injured in hospital.

The latest accident happened on the RN1 road that links the Diori Hamani international airport to Niamey.

One eyewitness told Agence France-Presse: "Just before midnight I went out and I saw the truck overturned. People came from everywhere to take gas, then I saw fire on its side and everything burst into flames."

Interior Minister Mohamed Bazoum told the agency it appeared a spark from one of the motorcycles that had gathered at the scene may have caused the explosion.

Fuel tanker explosions are fairly common in Niger's leading oil-producing neighbour, Nigeria.

More than 100 people died in an explosion in southern Nigeria in 2012.</s>A fuel tanker lorry has overturned and exploded near the airport in Niger’s capital, Niamey, killing at least 58 people, authorities say. Many of the victims had gathered to collect fuel after the vehicle overturned close to railway tracks as it tried to park....Read more via P.M. News – http://bit.ly/2Y7drAD Get More Nigeria Metro News</s>A fuel tanker lorry has overturned and exploded near the airport in Niger’s capital, Niamey, killing at least 58 people, authorities say.

Many of the victims had gathered to collect fuel after the vehicle overturned close to railway tracks as it tried to park.

Another 37 people were injured in the explosion late on Sunday evening.

President Mahamadou Issoufou has travelled to visit some of the injured in hospital.

The latest accident happened on the RN1 road that links the Diori Hamani international airport to Niamey.

One eyewitness told Agence France-Presse: “Just before midnight I went out and I saw the truck overturned. People came from everywhere to take gas, then I saw fire on its side and everything burst into flames.”

Interior Minister Mohamed Bazoum told the agency it appeared a spark from one of the motorcycles that had gathered at the scene may have caused the explosion.</s>At least 55 people were killed on Monday in Niger when a tanker truck exploded near a petrol station in the capital Niamey, Interior Minister Mohamed Bazoum said.

The explosion happened as some residents were trying to siphon fuel from the tanker near the airport, the minister wrote on Twitter.</s>Fifty-eight people died in Niger’s capital Niamey after an overturned tanker truck exploded as crowds collected spilt fuel, authorities and witnesses said Monday.

The blast on the RN1 route near the international airport Sunday night left the burnt truck’s wreckage, motorbikes and debris scattered over the road. Nearby houses were damaged by fire.

The explosion left 58 dead, the presidency said in a statement.

“Motorbike riders and people were all around the truck when it exploded all of a sudden,” a local trader said. “I saw at least 40 dead.”

Witnesses said people were trying to collect petrol leaking from the truck, which had overturned on railway tracks when the explosion happened.

“Just before midnight I went out and I saw the truck overturned. People came from everywhere to take gas, then I saw fire on its side and everything burst into flames,” a college student told AFP.

Nigerian President Mahamadou Issoufou visited some of the injured in a hospital in the capital, according to the presidential Twitter account.

Prime Minister Brigi Rafini and the Interior Minister Mohamed Bazoum inspected the site of the explosion, describing a scene of “real drama.”

Bazoum said the truck had tipped over while trying to park. Crowds and motorbike drivers rushed to the scene to take fuel from the tanker.

“Unfortunately one of the motorcyclists did not switch off their engine. There must have been a spark that caused a massive blast,” the minister said.

He said 37 people were injured. Most were in a very serious condition in hospital with burns.

Niger, a poor West African country, has tried to stamp out fuel smuggling from neighbouring Nigeria.

Nigeria, a major oil producer, has seen similar deadly accidents and explosions in the past when people try to steal fuel from oil pipelines.</s>58 people died and 37 people injured 37 were injured in African country Niger’s capital city Niamey after an overturned tanker truck exploded. Most were in a very serious condition in hospital with burns. The deceased people were collecting spilt fuel from the tanker.

The blast on the RN1 route near the international airport t left the burnt truck’s wreckage, motorbikes and debris scattered over the road. Nearby houses were damaged by fire. People were trying to collect petrol leaking from the truck, which had overturned on railway tracks when the explosion happened.

Niger, a poor West African country, has tried to stamp out fuel smuggling from neighbouring Nigeria. Nigeria, a major oil producer, has seen similar deadly accidents and explosions in the past when people try to steal fuel from oil pipelines</s>The blast on the main road near Niamey's international airport left the burnt truck's wreckage, motorbikes and debris scattered over the road. Nearby houses were also damaged by fire.

The toll from the explosion was 58 dead and at least 40 injured, according to an interior ministry spokesman.

Witnesses said people were trying to collect petrol leaking from the truck, which had overturned on railway tracks, when the explosion happened.

"It just before midnight when I went out and I saw the truck overturned. People came from everywhere to take gas, then I saw fire on its side and everything burst into flames," a college student told the French news agency AFP.

Niger's president, Mahamadou Issoufou, has visited the injured in the national hospital in the capital.

Prime Minister Brigi Rafini and the Interior Minister Mohamed Bazoum inspected the site of the explosion this morning.

Niger, a poor West African country, has been trying to stamp out fuel smuggling from neighbouring Nigeria – a major oil producer, which has seen similar accidents and explosions in the past when people have tried to steal fuel from oil pipelines.

Activity at Niamey's international airport was unaffected by the disaster.</s>At least 55 people were killed on Monday in Niger when a tanker truck exploded near a petrol station in the capital Niamey, Interior Minister Mohamed Bazoum said.

The explosion happened as some residents were trying to siphon fuel from the tanker near the airport, the minister wrote on Twitter.

At least 37 people were injured and taken to hospitals. (dpa/NAN)</s>NIAMEY, Niger -- Authorities in the West African nation of Niger say at least 55 people are dead after a tanker truck filled with fuel exploded near the country's main airport.

President Issoufou Mahamadou called the explosion a "national tragedy" after visiting a hospital where dozens were wounded, some with serious burns. The death toll was expected to rise as doctors said some were in critical condition.

Authorities believe the explosion took place after the tanker truck flipped over near a gas station. 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.</s>NIAMEY (Reuters) - At least 55 people were killed in Niger when an overturned fuel tanker from which they were siphoning gasoline exploded, the government said on Monday.

The incident took place late Sunday night on the highway linking Niger’s Diori Hamani international airport to the capital Niamey.

Interior Minister Mohamed Bazoum said 55 charred bodies had been recovered from the scene and that 37 were being treated in nearby hospitals.

A presidency statement released later on Monday said three victims had since succumbed to their wounds, raising the death toll to 58.

Traffic accidents are common in West Africa, where roads are bad and safety standards poor.
A fuel tanker lorry overturns and explodes near the airport in Niamey, Niger, killing at least 58 people.