Liberian police have arrested more than 40 people following massive looting at the facility of a Turkish gold mining company, reports say.

The looting was reportedly triggered by a collision between the company's pick-up truck and a motorcycle carrying four people.

The four on the motorcycle all died, while the driver of the pick-up truck survived.

Prime FM, a private Monrovia broadcaster, reported that angry local residents set the pick-up truck on fire before forcing their way into the company’s facility.

The radio station adds that looters took computers, glass for windows, and, crucially, harmful chemicals used for blasting rocks in search of gold.