A tragic incident unfolded on a Chilean highway as a tanker truck toppled and erupted into a massive toxic gas cloud, claiming multiple lives.

Shocking video captured the terrifying moment when the tanker, loaded with liquid gas, lost control, collided with a barrier, and overturned in the Renca area of Santiago on Thursday. The accident led to a devastating explosion.

The fiery blast resulted in the deaths of four individuals, including the tanker driver, and left 17 others with injuries. Eyewitnesses reported that the driver appeared to lose control prior to the crash.

Motorists on the highway were seen desperately attempting to evade the looming grey gas cloud as it spread across the road. In a horrifying turn, the gas ignited, creating a fireball that dramatically altered the scene captured by a CTV camera, painting it in shades of orange and black before the footage abruptly ended.

Motorists could be seen trying in vain to avoid a grey gas cloud as it engulfed a large swathe of the highway.

The cloud then ignited into a fireball, turning a CTV camera’s field of view orange and black before the footage cut out.

Governor of the Santiago Metropolitan Region Claudio Orrego said of the wounded, five people were in a serious condition in the hospital.

“One has burns covering 100 per cent of their body with imminent risk to their life,” Mr Orrego told reporters.

The thunderous explosion was felt within a radius of up to 200 meters and destroyed at least 50 cars, firefighters said.

The tanker belonged to local gas company Gasco and authorities are still investigating the cause of the crash.