According to the Nigerien authorities, the accident occurred near an airport in the capital city of Niamey, when people tried to syphon gasoline from a cistern.
The Interior Ministry stated that 55 people had died in a tank truck blast in Niamey on Sunday night. Witnesses told that the truck had overturned on railway tracks, later exploding when people tried to collect fuel that was leaking from it.
The authorities also stated that many other victims have been admitted to hospital following the incident.