Vehicles damaged in an oil tanker explosion are seen outside the town of Naivasha, Kenya, on December 11, 2016 (AFP Photo/Simon MAINA)

Nairobi (AFP) - More than 30 people died when a tanker carrying inflammable materials crashed into other vehicles and burst into flames outside the town of Naivasha in Kenya late on Saturday night, officials said. The tanker, heading to Uganda, appeared to lose control as it headed downhill before crashing into other vehicles in Naivasha, north-west of the capital Nairobi, said Mwachi Pius Masai, of the National Disaster Management Unit. Masai said the accident involved "over 11 vehicles burnt" when the tanker rammed into others on the road and caught fire. "We have so far collected 25 bodies from the scene of the accident after a lorry heading to Uganda lost control and rammed into several vehicles," said Red Cross official Felister Kioko at the scene. Image copyright AFP Image caption At least 11 vehicles were caught up in the blaze

Another eyewitness, Peter Kimani, told the Associated Press the lorry was going at "high speed and lost control after hitting speed bumps". An official in Naivasha said 50 people were being treated in several hospitals for burns, eight of them in a serious condition. "It's a terrible incident, people are burnt, some in their cars and others as they tried to escape," said a police officer on the scene.
An oil tanker explodes on a main highway near Naivasha, Kenya, killing at least 42 people, according to the Kenya National Disaster Operation Centre.