Senegal:tanker truck explodes killing at least 35

Senegal:tanker truck explodes killing at least 35

Benin's National Radio said the truck overturned on the road Wednesday night and people converged to siphon gasoline. The explosion in the crowd killed at least 35 and seriously injured others.

The explosion occurred in Porga, near the Burkina Faso border and about 500 kilometers (300 miles) north of Benin's commercial hub of Cotonou, the radio said.

Benin's is among the world's poorest countries, ranked near the bottom of the U.N. quality-of-life index - 161st out of 177 nation, the AP reports.

Earlier this month in neighboring Nigeria, some 200 impoverished villagers scavenging for free fuel were killed when gas gushing from a ruptured pipeline exploded.