HEFEI - Nearly 1,000 people were evacuated early Thursday morning after a highway crash triggered a gas leak from a tanker truck in east China's Anhui province, local firefighters said.

Up to 24 tonnes of liquified petroleum gas are leaking from the damaged vehicle, which collided with a car at 2 am in Lixin county, according to the local fire brigade.

The car's driver, the only passenger, was killed in the crash. Local authorities have evacuated nearly 1,000 nearby villagers due to fire and poisoning concerns.

Firefighters are working to dilute the gas.