Two people were killed and four others injured when a truck carrying ammonium nitrate collided with another vehicle and exploded on a national highway in northern China at around noon on Sunday, state news agency Xinhua reported.

Authorities in Inner Mongolia autonomous region said the blast occurred at 11.27am on a section of National Highway 331 in Xilingol League, according to the report.

Officials said a truck carrying hazardous chemicals collided with another transport vehicle, leaving two people dead and one injured.

Three more people in other vehicles were injured in the blast triggered by the collision.

A section of damaged road pictured after the accident. Photo: Handout

Xinhua said all four injured had been taken to medical facilities. The local government has also set up an investigation team to look into the cause of the incident.

Videos from the scene circulating on Chinese social media showed a burning vehicle suddenly exploding, with flames shooting into the sky and thick yellow smoke rising from the scene.