The number of people who died when a bridge collapsed after a truck carrying fireworks exploded has increased to 13 amid claims the local government covered up the true death toll.

The government of Central China's Henan province updated the number who died in the accident from 10 to 13 on Wednesday after a news report questioned the official figure.

On Feb 1, a truck loaded with 9 tons of fireworks exploded and blasted part of a 30-meter-high bridge on a highway in Sanmenxia city. The local government said 10 people died and it released a list of the names of the deceased on Feb 4.

Shi Yanfei, who was is believed to have died as he was driving the truck carrying the fireworks which was completely destroyed, was not included in the list, according to Beijing News report on Tuesday.

On Wednesday afternoon, the local government updated the death toll to 13, including the truck driver and two other passengers.

The government said the three bodies were destroyed due to the force of the explosion and it took time to identify them