Three people died and five others were injured on Wednesday morning when an oil tanker truck undergoing repair exploded in south China's Hainan Province.

The explosion at the Qiongcheng Auto Repair Plant in Chengmai County occurred at around 9:20 a.m., a local government spokesman said. No reason was given for the cause of the blast.

Two repairmen went into the empty tanker to investigate a blocked oil drain. One was overcome by fumes and fainted and fell over before the accident occurred, said Chen Jinshi, a witness at the scene.

They were believed to have inhaled the residual gas which had not been cleared at this stage.

The identities of the dead and injured were yet to be established, the spokesman said.

The five injured, including three seriously, were being treated at Hainan Provincial People's Hospital.

The worst of the injured received burns to his entire body and was in critical condition, said Dr. Pan Yunchuan.

Police were holding the tanker driver surnamed Huang.

The cause of the accident is under investigation.

(Xinhua News Agency October 22, 2008)