FUNTUA, Nigeria, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Forty five people died when an open-back truck loaded with grain and passengers crashed on Monday in Nigeria's remote northern Katsina state, hospital officials said.

The truck was starting out on the long journey to Lagos, about 1,200 km (750 miles) away, when it lost control after hitting a pothole and rolled over in the bush.

Hospital officials in the nearby town of Funtua said 19 survivors were being treated for a variety of injuries including crushed limbs.

A Reuters reporter saw 45 dead bodies in the mortuary at Funtua general hospital.

Devastating traffic accidents are frequent in Nigeria, Africa's most populous country and top oil producer, where potholes, poorly maintained vehicles and aggressive driving combine to make the roads dangerous.

Affordable public transport options are limited so many poor Nigerians travel on the back of trucks, often sitting precariously on top of large loads.

AlertNet news is provided by

Delicio.us  |   Digg  |   NewsVine  |   Reddit                                                                                  Permalink