An explosion caused by a car accident killed six people and injured 14 others in the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar, authorities in the vast landlocked country between China and Russia said.

A truck carrying 60 tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) exploded on Tuesday night when it collided with another vehicle, Mongolia’s national emergency management agency said.

“Three people lost their lives due to the fire,” the service clarified, a tally that may become heavier, while the dead include three more firefighters and the authorities say 14 were injured.

Among the injured are 4 children.

The ten adults are hospitalized with burns.

Emergency services received a call shortly after 1am (local time; 19:00 yesterday Greek time), according to authorities. Crews were immediately dispatched to the spot and the fire was quickly extinguished, they added.

Visual material released by the emergency response service shows huge flames on a street in Ulaanbaatar. Also visible are the charred trunks of two cars and extensive damage throughout the area, including broken windows at a nearby school.

“My sincere condolences to the families (of the victims) and to the members of the emergency response service who lost their colleagues in this tragic event,” US Ambassador to Mongolia Richard Buagan said via X (formerly Twitter).