Lagos (Nigeria): Hundreds have died and many more have been critically injured when a pipeline carrying petroleum products exploded on Tuesday in Nigeria's largest city, Lagos.
The pipeline exploded after it was broken open by thieves, the Red Cross said. "Hundreds of people had gone to scoop fuel from the pipeline after the thieves puntured it at Abule Egba, a heavily populated area of Lagos," said Red Cross Secretary General Abiodun Orebiyi.
Nigerians often tap into pipelines carrying refined fuel, scooping up the raw product in buckets or plastic bags. Spilled fuel spreading in pools sometimes ignites, immolating people nearby.
At least 200 dead bodies have been counted even as rescue workers are trying to document more charred corpses lying at the scene.
However, unofficial estimates have put the number of dead as high as 700.
Hundreds of bodies could be seen jumbled and fused together in the raging flames at the blast site. Intense heat kept rescue workers back as smoke billowed over Adule Egba.
''We can only recognise them through the skulls, the bodies are scattered over the ground,'' said a Red Cross official Ige Oladimeji. "Workers can't get close enough because the fire is still burning.''
In May, more than 150 people died in a similar explosion in Lagos.
Nigeria is Africa's largest oil producer, but corruption, poor management and limited refining capacity often leaves the country short of fuel for vehicles and stoves. Shortages in recent days have prompted hours-long lines at Lagos filling stations.
(With inputs from AP)
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