Own Correspondent|AT least 42 passengers have been confirmed dead, Zimbabwe police said Friday, after a suspected gas tank exploded on a bus, with pictures showing the burnt-out wreckage of the vehicle.

Fire swept through a passenger bus in Gwanda, and police said Friday that more than 40 people died and at least 20 were injured, some with severe burns.

The driver of the bus who escaped with minor burns, said the fire started after an explosion which filled the whole bus.

The bus driver, Mr Ndabazinhle Sikhosana receives meical attention at Gwanda Provincial Hospital.

Speaking from the accident scene earlier on Matabeleland South police spokesperson, Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele said several bodies had been reduced to ashes but could not immediately ascertain the actual number of the deceased.

Gwanda Provincial Hospital acting medical superintendent, Dr Rutendo Manyathi said 27 people sustained injuries while three were referred to Bulawayo with severe burns.

“At the moment we know that more than 42 people died,” police spokeswoman Charity Charamba said after the accident late on Thursday, with state media reporting a gas tank belonging to a passenger was believed to have exploded.

“Our police officers are at the scene,” Charamba added.

The state-owned Herald newspaper said on its Twitter feed that “it is suspected a gas tank belonging to one of the passengers caused the inferno in the bus.

“Dozens have been confirmed dead and several others injured through burns.”

Earlier, Charamba told AP news agency that at least 20 other people were injured, some with severe burns, in the accident.

Meanwhile Civil Protection Unity director Nathan Nkomo has confirmed the release of $15 000 to the families of the deceased for funeral expenses.