No fewer than 55 people died when a petrol tanker exploded overnight near the international airport in Niamey, the capital city of Niger Republic.

An interior ministry spokesman disclosed on Monday that 36 others were injured.

“The toll from the explosion is 55 dead and 36 injured,” the official said, “The victims were burnt.”

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