A fuel tanker explosion killed more than 60 people and injured dozens in Tanzania

• At least 62 people were killed by a fuel tanker explosion in Tanzania on Saturday.
• The vehicle overturned in the Morogoro region, and witnesses said dozens of people were attempting to siphon fuel from the tanker when it exploded.
• Fuel is a valuable commodity in several African nations, leading people to take risks to try and siphon fuel from accessible tankers and pipelines.
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At least 62 people were killed and another 70 were injured after a fuel tanker exploded in Morogoro, Tanzania, on Saturday.

Witnesses told the Associated Press that dozens of people were attempting to recover fuel from the tanker after it overturned on a major road.

Officials told Reuters that a significant number of taxi drivers and motor bike riders were also injured as they trafficked the busy road. Many of the injured people suffered serious burns, which could lead to more deaths.

Morogoro is located about 120 miles away from Dar es Salaam, a major city in Tanzania. Fuel is a valuable commdity in several African nations, leading people to take risks to try and siphon fuel from accessible tankers and pipelines.

In July, 45 people were killed by a fuel tanker explosion in Nigeria despite security officials trying to keep people away from a tanker that had been damaged in a crash. Another tanker explosion killed at least 55 people in Niger in May; the vehicle had overturned near the country's primary airport and people were attempting to collect leaking fuel.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.