Death toll from South Sudan blast rises to 182

Such incidents have happened before in the east African region where oil tankers often have to travel long distances along potholed roads and pass through poor communities.

Officials in South Sudan now say at least 150 people were killed when an overturned oil tanker exploded, killing people who were trying to siphon out the fuel.

Meanwhile, John Sakithat, the local government director of Maridi, stated that numerous injured are now “in critical condition”, thus prompting the speculation that the death toll might go up even further.

Doctors have described how they are struggling to cope with limited supplies to treat severe burns, including a lack of painkillers.

The blast occurred on Wednesday as crowds gathered around the tanker to gather fuel after it had veered off the road.

“Our situation here in Maridi is not good, the death toll has increased”, Eskia said.

Those visiting the wounded in the hugely overstretched hospital in Maridi described horrific scenes.

“Very many” people are dying, a witness told Radio Tamazuj, adding there were not enough drugs to help them. Some victims were burned beyond recognition, he said.

In June 2013, 29 people were killed and scores injured in an explosion after a collision between a fuel truck and a passenger van in the Ugandan capital of Kampala. But the country is one of the poorest in Africa, and more than 2.2 million people have been forced to flee their homes because of a conflict between government troops and rebel factions.