Pictures: Nearly 150 killed as oil tanker blows up in Pakistan

An oil tanker overturned on a sharp bend on a highway on the outskirts of the city of Bahawalpur. A large crowd gathered, many to collect fuel in containers, and the tanker exploded in a huge fireball.

An overturned oil tanker burst into flames in Pakistan on Sunday, killing 148 people who had rushed to the scene of the highway accident to gather leaking fuel, officials said.

Burnt cars and motorcycles at the scene of an oil tanker explosion in Bahawalpur in Pakistan. (REUTERS)

The death toll could rise further as another 50 people are still in critical condition, said Dr Mohammad Baqar, a senior rescue official in the area.

The disaster occurred when hundreds of residents of a nearby village gathered at the site of an overturned oil tanker to collect the leaking fuel. It’s believed that a spark from the many cars and motorcycles that raced to the scene ignited the fuel.

(Note -- Graphic content) Local residents look at burnt bodies after an oil tanker caught fire following an accident on a highway near Ahmedpur East, some 670 km from Islamabad.

The scene of the oil tanker explosion in Bahawalpur in Pakistan. (REUTERS)

A soldier stands guard at the scene of the oil tanker explosion in Bahawalpur in Pakistan. (REUTERS)

A soldier stands guard amid burnt out cars and motorcycles at the scene of the oil tanker explosion in Bahawalpur in Pakistan.

(Note - Graphic content) Hospital workers carry victims of the oil tanker explosion in Bahawalpur in Pakistan.

(Note - Graphic content) Hospital workers carry victims of the oil tanker explosion in Bahawalpur in Pakistan.

(Note - Graphic content) Hospital workers carry victims of the oil tanker explosion in Bahawalpur in Pakistan.

(Note - Graphic content) Rescue workers and paramedics bring a burns victim injured after the oil tanker fire.