An overturned oil tanker exploded killing 146 people in Pakistan, as most of the victims had gathered round when spilt fuel from the stricken vehicle ignited.
The tanker overturned on a sharp bend and the victims, many of whom had rushed to collect leaking fuel, were killed when it exploded, apparently after someone lit a cigarette, officials said.
The crash happened on a highway on the outskirts of the city of Bahawalpur. The driver lost control when the vehicle blew a tyre, a provincial government spokesman said.
A large crowd of people gathered, many to collect fuel in containers, and the tanker exploded in a huge fireball about 45 minutes later.
Rescue workers said about 80 people had been injured.
"People of the area and passersby had started gathering fuel when it exploded, burning everybody," the spokesman said.
An estimated 20 children were among the dead, he said.
The accident happened the day before Pakistan celebrates the Eid al-Fitr festival, when families get together to celebrate the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.
Many bodies were burned beyond recognition and television pictures showed piles of burnt out motorbikes, apparently those of people who arrived to collect fuel or just to have a look.
Police had tried to clear the area before the explosion but people ignored them, the spokesman said, adding that the initial crash had blocked the road causing a back-up of traffic.
The driver of the tanker survived the accident and had been taken into police custody, he said.
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About 50 people were killed in separate bomb attacks in Pakistan on Friday but there was no suggestion of an attack today.
"According to initial reports, somebody tried to light a cigarette," said a spokesman for the rescue services.
Firefighters took two hours to douse the flames.
About 40 people with serious burns were airlifted by helicopter to hospitals in the nearby city of Multan.
The prime minister's office said the Punjab provincial government had been directed to provide full medical assistance.
"Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has expressed deep grief over the heavy loss of life in the unfortunate accident of oil tanker fire at Ahmad Pur Sharqia, Bahawalpur," the statement said.
