Pakistan wedding inferno kills 40

At least 40 people have been killed after firecrackers exploded on a bus carrying guests back from a wedding in Lahore, eastern Pakistan.

Police said there were about 50 people on the bus. The other passengers were taken to hospital and eight are in a serious condition.

"It took seconds until the bus was engulfed by flames and people hardly had any chance to rescue anyone," said Senior Superintendent Aamir Zulfikar of Lahore's North Cantonment.

Local residents told AFP news agency the blast occurred after a small boy threw firecrackers from a rear window of the bus.

Many people have died in similar accidents, he says, although this is one of the worst tragedies of its kind in terms of casualties.