In Nigeria, the confirmed death toll from Tuesday’s oil pipe explosion in Lagos has reached at least 269. Another 160 were hospitalized with burn injuries. Crowds of people had gathered to scoop oil from the pipeline after it was punctured by armed residents. Most of the bodies were burned beyond recognition.

Lagos Police Commissioner Emmanuel Adebayo: “The information I have is that there was a burst pipe. With that, we sent policemen there to control it, and we contacted NNPC (Nigeria National Petroleum Company), who are to put it off from the source. Once they put it off from the source, there will be no more fuel coming out, and we will put the fire off. It has been switched off.”

The explosion occurred in a poor area home to low-income and casual workers. Over the past few weeks, Nigerians have faced long queues at gas stations across the country because of shortages from the national oil company.