Over 100 people have died and 100 injured after an oil tanker reportedly caught fire.

The incident happened at the Ahmad Sharqia area of Bahawalpur in Pakistan as a crowd attempted to collect fuel from the tanker, Aljazeera reports.

The tanker exploded.

The dead bodies and injured are being shifted to Victoria Hospital of Bahawalpur and emergency has been declared in the hospital, said Pakistan’s The Nation newspaper.

Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper said the fire brigade arrived on the site of the incident shortly after the blaze started and rescue operations were initiated.

Two fire engines battled the fire and eventually gained control over it.

At least six cars and 12 motorcycles were burnt in the blaze.

The injured were transferred to District Headquarters Hospital and Bahawal Victoria Hospital, rescue officials said.

The death toll was expected to rise as many of the injured are reported to be in critical condition.