At least 200 people have been killed in an oil pipeline explosion in Nigeria's commercial capital, Lagos, the Red Cross says.
More than 200 people have been killed in an oil pipeline explosion in Nigeria's commercial capital, Lagos, the Red Cross says.
It is feared the death toll could be much higher.
Officials say they are still counting bodies and it is feared the death toll could be much higher.
Officials said the blast in the Abule Egba area happened as hundreds of people were scooping fuel from a pipeline punctured by thieves.
The blast in the Abule Egba area happened as hundreds of people were scooping fuel from a pipeline punctured by thieves, officials said.
Some 2,000 people have died in similar incidents in the past decade, including 150 last May in Lagos.
Some 2,000 people have died in similar incidents in the past decade.
Bodies 'scattered'
A Red Cross official said efforts to recover the bodies were being hampered by the intense heat.
NIGERIA PIPELINE DISASTERS May 2006: At least 150 killed in LagosDec 2004: At least 20 killed in LagosSept 2004: At least 60 killed in LagosJune 2003: At least 105 killed in Abia StateJul 2000: At least 300 killed in WarriMar 2000: At least 50 killed in Abia StateOct 1998: At least 1,000 killed in Jesse
NIGERIA PIPELINE DISASTERS May 2006: At least 150 killed in LagosDec 2004: At least 20 killed in LagosSept 2004: At least 60 killed in LagosJune 2003: At least 105 killed in Abia StateJul 2000: At least 300 killed in WarriMar 2000: At least 50 killed in Abia StateOct 1998: At least 1,000 killed in Jesse
"We can only recognise them through the skulls, the bodies are scattered over the ground," Ige Oladimeji was quoted by the Associated Press as saying.
Akintunde Akinkleye, a Reuters news agency photographer at the scene, said he had counted about 500 bodies.
The secretary general of Nigeria's Red Cross, Abiodum Orebiyi, told the BBC that a number of houses had been destroyed, along with a mosque and a church.
He said the blaze had now been brought under control.
Some of those injured in the blast are believed to have gone into hiding to avoid arrest. Others may not have gone to hospital because they lack money to pay for treatment
Despite being Africa's largest oil producer, Nigerians often suffer fuel shortages because of corruption, poor management and infrastructure problems.
Despite being Africa's largest oil producer, Nigerians often suffer fuel shortages because of corruption, poor management and infrastructure problems.
Pipelines often pass through poor communities, who break them to steal the precious fuel.
Pipelines often pass through poor communities, who break them to steal the fuel.
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