55 killed in Niger tanker truck explosion: ministry

Fifty-five people died when a tanker truck exploded near the international airport of Niger's capital Niamey overnight, an interior ministry spokesmansaid Monday.

"The toll from the explosion is 55 dead and 36 injured," the official told AFP. "The victims were burnt." Witnessessaid people were trying to collect petrol leaking from the truck, which had overturned on railway tracks, when the explosion happened.

(With inputs from agencies.)