KARACHI - At least 15 people were killed and dozens more injured when a tanker exploded in the southern Pakistani city of Hyderabad on Monday, officials said.

"At least 15 people were killed and 40 injured, it was an accidental blast," government spokesman Jamil Soomro told AFP. "It was not an act of terrorism."

Hyderabad police chief Fayyaz Leghari told AFP a truck carrying a large gas tank exploded when it was parked at a terminal in Hyderabad city. "It was a severe blast," he said.

"It looks like an accidental blast, we cannot say it is an act of terrorism," he added.