Fuel tanker ablaze in Nigeria

A fuel tanker caught fire on a busy road in Port Harcourt, Nigeria’s southern oil region, today and dozens of people were feared dead, police said.

It was not known what caused the vehicle’s cargo to catch fire as it travelled on a road along the outskirts of Port Harcourt, but up to three dozen people were feared killed in the blaze, said a Rivers State police spokeswoman, Ireju Barasua.

Police were investigating first reports of the fire and had no firm casualty toll, she added.

It was not known if the blaze was linked to the region’s rebels, who have promised to step up their campaign of bombings and kidnappings.