TAIYUAN - At least seven people were killed and another 10 injured in a truck collision in North China's Shanxi province, local authorities told Xinhua on Sunday afternoon.

According to the information office of Jincheng city, the accident happened at 2:50 pm on Saturday when a coal truck rear-ended a tanker lorry loaded with methanol, a poisonous and flammable liquid often used as a fuel.

The collision, which caused an explosion, happened inside the Yanhou tunnel of a highway linking Shanxi's Jincheng city and Jiyuan city in Henan province.

One of the injured is in critical condition in hospital.

The four drivers are assisting police with their investigation.

Cleaning work at the scene of the collision is ongoing.