38 die in China accident

Beijing, July 19 (IANS) At least 38 people were killed and five injured Saturday after a vehicle collision triggered fire and explosion on a central China highway.

The accident occurred at around 3 a.m. on a section of the Hukun (Shanghai to Kunming) Expressway in Hunan Province, when a freight van loaded with alcohol hit the rear of a passenger coach, Xinhua reported.

A total of five vehicles were destroyed in the accident.

The fire was put out by 8 a.m.