Death toll rises to 18 in China tanker truck blast, more than 200 injured

Firefighters are putting out the fire at the site of buildings damaged after a tanker truck explosion on a highway in Wenling, in eastern China's Zhejiang Province on Saturday night (June 13). The tanker truck exploded on a highway in southeastern China on Saturday, collapsing nearby buildings and workshop, killing some and injuring others, state media said. - Xinhua/Asian News Network

BEIJING (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 Sunday (June 14).

The force of the blast on Saturday afternoon caused nearby homes and factories to collapse, and sent huge clouds of black smoke billowing into the air as flames engulfed several cars.