Originally Posted by sidney

Story Highlights

• Construction equipment ruptures petroleum pipeline on outskirts of Lagos
  
• Fire spreads to nearby homes, school
  
• At least 20 injuries reported, Red Cross says

LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) -- Flames from a ruptured fuel pipeline swept through homes and a school in a Nigerian village Thursday, killing about 100 people and injuring some 20 others, a Red Cross official said.

Road construction machinery pierced a pipe carrying refined fuel through a village on the distant outskirts of the main city of Lagos, spreading flames into the surrounding area, said Nigerian Red Cross disaster coordinator Suleman Maikubi.

Many children fled from the school before it was completely engulfed in fire, and Red Cross officials were working to reunite children with parents who rushed to the scene.

Maikubi said it was unclear how many children were among the roughly 100 people killed. Around 20 people were injured and taken to a hospital for treatment, but fire-control teams were on the scene and bringing the blaze under control, he said.

Pipeline fires are common in Nigeria. More than 400 people died in two similar pipeline explosions in Lagos in 2006 and at least 40 died in December.

Authorities frequently blame the disasters on criminal gangs who break into the pipelines to siphon fuel for sale, attracting crowds of people who come in their wake to scavenge for fuel.

Source: CNN.com

Originally Posted by Flomari

the world is coming to an end

Originally Posted by Tiron

This incident was very close to home for me. As my heart goes out to the dead and all those affected, I thank God on my knees that my family were lucky, through the Grace of God, to escape this awful awful tragedy.
I can't even begin to detail how close to home this was for me. Two very key members of my family escaped the inferno. I thank God for their lives and I thank God that their house remains one of the only two buildings not completely destroyed by the fire.

You would think a comprehensive risk assessment would be conducted by the local government and the contractors BEFORE commencing such a high risk job, in such a densely populated area for that matter. But no, not in Nigeria.

Now, so many lives are lost and some of those whose homes have been destroyed by the fire are left stranded and left to rely on families and friends for emergency shelter.

As the fire was raging, thieves took over. In fact, they had started to cart away some of my family's belongings on the pretense of 'helping', when one of the people we rented one of our shops to alerted policemen standing nearby.

Apparently, this is the norm in Naija. Thieves normally get to a scene of fire before the fire-brigade. I was told that sometimes, the thieves even throw stones at firemen or cause disruption of any type to deter and delay the fire service from putting out fires. The thieves apparently cause so much ruckus so they can have ample time and opportunity to steal from the burning houses.

May the dead rest in peace and may God comfort all those affected.

Originally Posted by Multioption

...yeah, but only in Nigeria!

Originally Posted by praizes2000

Only in Nigeria indeed; what of Burma's Cyclone, China's Quake, US's Tornado and Chile's Volcano.

END OF THE WORLD! is on the high side in the world now.

Originally Posted by cheriah

Burma and China's own are natural disasters by God, Nigeria's own is pure negligence by the Nigerians.

Originally Posted by mealone

here's he video

Video - Breaking News Videos from CNN.com