Tanker truck explosion on China highway kills 19 and injures 189

Firefighters work amongst collapsed buildings in the aftermath of a tanker truck explosion near a highway in Wenling in eastern China's Zhejiang province. Chinatopix/AP

A firefighter puts out fire in the aftermath of a tanker truck explosion that damaged buildings near a highway in Wenling in eastern China's Zhejiang province Saturday. Chinatopix/AP

Firefighters look for victims in damaged buildings in the aftermath of a tanker truck explosion. AP

Firefighters look for residents trapped in collapsed buildings in the aftermath of a tanker truck explosion. AP

An LNG truck exploded after going off the road on the nearby expressway. EPA

The blast hurtled a portion of the truck into a nearby village. At least 19 people were killed and over 170 people were hospitalised. EPA

The number of people killed in a tanker truck explosion on a highway in eastern China has climbed to 18, with nearly 200 more injured, local authorities said on June 14. AFP

The number of people killed in a tanker truck explosion on a highway in eastern China has climbed to 18, with nearly 200 more injured, local authorities said on June 14. AFP

Rescuers search for survivors in a building damaged by a tanker explosion near Wenling, in China's eastern Zhejiang province. AFP

The number of people killed in a tanker truck explosion on a highway in eastern China has climbed to 18, with nearly 200 more injured, local authorities said on June 14. AFP

Rescuers search for survivors in the rubble of a building damaged by a tanker explosion near Wenling, in China's eastern Zhejiang province.AFP

Rescuers searching for survivors in a building damaged by a tanker explosion near Wenling, in China's eastern Zhejiang province. AFP

Rescuers search for survivors in a building damaged by a tanker explosion near Wenling, in China's eastern Zhejiang province. AFP

A tanker truck exploded on a highway in southeastern China on Saturday, killing 19 people and injuring at least 189 others, authorities said.

The explosion caused extensive damage to nearby buildings. One photo showed firefighters hosing down a row of buildings with blown-out facades well into the night.

The truck carrying liquefied gas exploded around 4.45 pm on the Shenyang-Haikou Expressway south of Shanghai in Zhejiang province, the official Xinhua News Agency said, citing local authorities.

Dramatic video footage of the accident published by state media showed a huge ball of fire shooting into the air as people screamed.

In one clip, a large piece of debris is seen flying into the air before crashing on some nearby buildings.

Another video showed the remains of the tanker and several truck tyres smashed into a building, which had been reduced to rubble.

A second explosion followed when the truck fell onto a factory workshop, Xinhua said.

The Wenling city government information office said on its social media account that houses and workshops collapsed and 189 people were treated at six hospitals.

A worker at a nearby restaurant told Xinhua that the blast shattered the windows of her home, but that her mother and brother were unharmed.

Deadly road accidents are common in China, where traffic regulations are often flouted or not enforced.

Last year, at least 36 people died and 36 others were hurt in eastern China when a packed coach with a flat tyre collided with a truck.