At least four people are dead after two vehicles collided head on at speed and burst into flames on a major outback highway.
Emergency services received multiple reports of the crash on the Stuart Highway about 75km east of Darwin around 12.50pm on Wednesday, Northern Territory Police said.
Police, fire and ambulance crews rushed to the scene but both vehicles were engulfed in flames and there were no survivors.
A section of the highway near the Marrakai turn-off was closed as investigators examined the scene and worked to formally identify the crash victims.
"Due to the severity of the crash, which appears to have been a high-speed head-on collision, both vehicles caught fire, making this an extremely complex investigation," Detective Senior Sergeant Michael Schumacher said in a statement.
"At this stage, we have confirmed at least four people have died.
"One vehicle, believed to be a goods van, contains one deceased person. The second vehicle, a dual-cab utility, contains three confirmed deceased."
Investigators were working to determine whether there were any other people in the vehicles, Det Sen Sgt Schumacher said.
Heavy vehicles were unable to pass through the area on Wednesday evening. Motorists have been urged to avoid the area and expect significant delays.
