The accident occurred late Friday on the highway connecting Bouake and Korhogo, two major northern cities.
Police Secours, an accident monitoring platform, noted that a parked freight truck without indicators had narrowed the road.
“The impact between the bus and the tanker ignited a fire of terrifying intensity,” Police Secours stated.
According to the Ivorian Press Agency and state broadcaster Radiodiffusion Television Ivoirienne, the crash and death toll were confirmed.
Road accidents are common in Ivory Coast due to poor road conditions and reckless driving, with over 1,000 fatalities each year, according to the Transportation Ministry.
In response, the government implemented a point-based driver’s license system last year, where drivers start with 12 points that are deducted for violations.
Traffic cameras were also installed on major roads to catch and fine offenders.