A road accident south of the Central African Republic's capital has killed at least eight people after a tanker carrying flammable liquids overturned, the government said on Saturday, releasing a provisional toll.

The victims of Friday evening's accident in the town of Bimbo included locals and other road users, a statement from communications ministry spokesperson Evariste Ngamana said.

The death toll currently stood at eight, but that could change as another ten people were injured in the accident, the statement added.

One hospital source told AFP the number of dead was closer to 15.

The authorities said an investigation had been opened into the accident to determine what had caused it.