A petrol tanker truck exploded on Sunday after colliding with another vehicle in north-central Nigeria, killing at least 48 people.

According to the State Emergency Management Agency in Niger state's north-central region, the gasoline tanker crashed into a truck carrying passengers and animals. According to the report, the crash included many additional automobiles.

PHOTO | COURTESY An oil tanker on fire

The agency's spokeswoman, Hussaini Ibrahim, estimated the dead toll at 48, and officials were still working to clean the area of the event.

Nigeria's state-owned corporation NNPC Ltd. raised the petrol price by at least 39% this week, the second-highest increase over a year.

 Yet shortages have persisted, forcing vehicles to queue in the country's major cities for hours.