NAIROBI, April 16 (Reuters) - A fuel tanker ripped through the left side of a bus in northern Tanzania, killing 22 people and injuring 17 others, police said on Monday.

The crash occurred on Sunday at Kisangara, about 400 km (248.5 miles) northwest of the commercial capital Dar es Salaam, and about 40 km from the northern city of Moshi.

"We have already recovered all the dead and injured and taken them to hospital. The dead are 22," Hilda Kinabo, acting regional police commander for Moshi, said by telephone.

"The bus was overtaking and the trailer (carrying fuel) ripped through the left side seats of the bus, carrying off and killing the passengers."

Kinabo said 17 passengers were injured and added that the bus was within its legal capacity, carrying about 60 people.

Fatal traffic accidents are common across east Africa, where roads and vehicles are often badly maintained, drivers poorly trained and speeding common.

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