Beijing, June 14 (IANS) At least 18 people were killed and over 160 others injured in a tanker blast in China's Zhejiang province, local authorities said on Sunday.

The as tanker exploded near a village in the Wenling section of the Shenyang-Haikou Expressway on Saturday evening, Xinhua news agency.

A second blast took place when the blown-up truck fell onto a workshop near the expressway.

The explosions caused the residential houses and factory workshops to collapse.

Hundreds of firefighters were sent to the scene for rescue work.

As of Sunday morning, a total of 166 injured people were receiving medical treatment in hospitals.

Rescue and search efforts were underway.

--IANS ksk/