Pakistan fuel truck fire takes four more lives overnight, death toll now 157

The disaster struck on the eve of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr that follows the holy month of Ramadan.

Four more victims of the massive fuel truck fire on Sunday died overnight, Pakistani officials said, taking the death toll to 157.

Pakistan army soldiers stands guard while rescue workers examine the site of an oil tanker explosion at a highway near Bahawalpur of Pakistan on Sunday. (AP)

The truck was travelling from the southern port city of Karachi to Lahore, the Punjab provincial capital, when the driver lost control and crashed on a highway outside Bahawalpur early Sunday. Scores of villagers rushed to the scene to collect the spilled fuel when the blaze ignited.

Dr Nahid Ahmed at the Nishter Hospital in Multan said, the death toll has steadily been rising and reached 157 on Monday. He says 50 more severely burned victims are being treated at his hospital.

The disaster struck on the eve of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr that follows the holy month of Ramadan.