Cars and houses were damaged when a pickup truck carrying a gas tank caught fire and exploded on the Zouk highway.

Media reports said the blast shook buildings in the area and echoed across nearby regions. The flames also reached a residential building near the explosion site as damage to power lines caused a blackout in the area.

The incident also caused a severe traffic jam in the area as security forces launched an investigation.

The media reports meanwhile added that the truck driver fled the scene before the explosion and was not answering his phone.

Source: Al-Manar English Website and other websites