Karachi, Pakistan (CNN) At least 153 were killed Sunday when they rushed to collect leaking fuel from a crashed tanker in Bahawalpur, eastern Pakistan, before it suddenly exploded. The truck veered off the road when the driver lost control, police official Mohammad Akhtar told CNN. As the tanker sat on the side of the road, fuel began leaking out in large pools. Shortly afterwards an explosion tore the container open like a soda can, engulfing everything around the truck, including women and children, according to the government-run Associated Press of Pakistan. Many victims died immediately, while others succumbed to their injuries at hospitals.Death toll rises to 153Police investigating if cigarettes, cell phones or tanker batteries sparked blaze
A state of emergency was declared in _, Punjab provincial government spokesman Salman Sufi said.