(CNN) At least 50 people were killed when two commercial buses collided and burst into flames in northern Ghana, police told CNN Friday.

Ghana Police Service spokesman David Eklu said the accident occurred at about 1:30 am Friday morning when the two long-distance buses collided head-on on the main highway leading from Kintampo to Tamale, Ghana's fourth largest city.

"The buses went up in flames when they collided," Eklu said.

"It's too early to ascertain how many died but 50 people have been confirmed dead."

He said both buses had about 100 people on board and some of the victims burned to death.

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