Remembering an Accident: Pipeline Explosion in Nigeria Kills 700 People

On October 18, 1998, a pipeline that ran through the village of Jesse was tapped to steal oil. During efforts to disperse people trying to get some of the oil, the pipeline exploded and killed hundreds instantly. Others died from resulting burns. It took six days for the fire to die down enough for rescue workers to approach the site. The fire was eventually extinguished by a team of specialists from Houston using foam.