At least 100 people were killed and scores injured when fuel from a pipeline exploded in a Nigerian village near the biggest city of Lagos, the Red Cross said today.
The fireball engulfed homes and schools at Ijegun village in the Lagos district of Alimosho after a bulldozer reportedly struck the pipe.
Many of the dead, who included schoolchildren, were killed in the stampede as people fled the flames.
"About 100 people have so far been confirmed dead from the fire. We have so far rescued more than 20 people with injuries and taken them to hospital for treatment," a Red Cross official said.
More than 20 burned out vehicles caught in the fire were visible in the street, as firefighters and volunteers tried to douse the flames with sand and water.
"I was returning home when I suddenly saw sparks of fire from where the grader (earthmover) was working. It was like hell was raining down on us, then everybody started running in different directions," a local resident said.
Previous pipeline blasts in Nigeria have been caused by vandals who drilled holes in the feeder lines, used to distribute mainly imported fuel, in order to steal petrol for sale on the black market.