NANCHANG, March 17(Xinhuanet)-- A truck loaded with firecrackers and powder exploded early Thursday morning in east China's Jiangxi Province, blowing up a nearby bus and leaving more than 20 people dead, local police said.

Police initially thought the double-decker bus caused the explosion.

Initial investigation, however, showed that the bus from Shenzhen, southern Guangdong Province, to eastern Zhejiang Province was blown up by the explosion of a truck from Liuyang City of central Hunan Province, a major firecracker producer.

The accident occurred at about 4:00 a.m. in Shangrao County on a local expressway.

The exact death toll is still unavailable, as the victims were blown to pieces, said local police, who estimate the tragedy may have killed about 30.

The explosion also caused injuries to five local people and two drivers near the scene, who were all hospitalized at present.

Further investigation is underway.