ABUJA — At least 48 people have been killed in the central Nigerian state of Niger, after a fuel tanker collided with a lorry carrying passengers and cattle, the country's disaster agency said.

The Niger State Emergency Management Agency said the collision happened at about 00:30 local time (01:30 GMT) on Sunday, and caused an explosion that engulfed both vehicles.

Director-general of the agency, Abdullahi Baba-arah, said response teams were dispatched to the scene to manage the situation.

A number of other vehicles were also caught up in the explosion.

Footage taken from the scene shortly after the incident shows the two vehicles, which have been entirely burnt out, as well as a number of dead cattle.

Speaking to the Reuters news agency after the incident, an emergency rescue worker said they were working to recover bodies, as well as dead animals which were still inside the vehicle.

According to state media, a mass burial is taking place for the victims.

Governor Umaru Bago said he was “pained by the unfortunate incident” in a condolence message to the families of the victims.

Fuel tanker explosions and accidents are common in Nigeria, partly due to the poor state of roads. — BBC