More than 70 were killed and dozens more were injured in a fuel tanker fire and explosion along a highway in central Nigeria, authorities said Saturday.

A tanker has exploded after crashing in Nigeria, killing 77 people who had rushed to collect fuel from the scene, authorities say.The tanker overturned and spilled its contents in the Suleja area of North Central Niger state on Saturday.

By Ahmed Kingimi MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (Reuters) -At least 60 people were killed and others injured in northern Nigeria on Saturday when a petrol tanker truck overturned, spilling petrol that exploded, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said.

Tsukwam said a truck carrying 60,000 litres of gasoline had an accident around 10:00 am (0900 GMT) at the Dikko junction on the road linking the federal capital Abuja to the northern city of Kaduna.

A petrol tanker truck exploded after flipping over in central Nigeria on Saturday, killing 70 people who had gathered to take the spilt fuel, the national road safety authority said. "The death toll stands at 70 so far," Kumar Tsukwam, the head of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Niger State, told AFP by telephone.

The incident, which occurred after the truck overturned and spilled fuel, highlights the dangers of fuel scarcity and the desperate measures taken by residents.