At least 230 people were killed when a fuel tanker overturned and exploded in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, sending a shock wave of fire that tore through homes and cinemas packed with people watching women’s World Cup Soccer.

Officials in Kinshasa confirmed on Saturday that the explosion which took place late on Friday also left 196 seriously injured adding fears that the death toll could rise.

The scene is described as devastating in Sange town where scores of houses were destroyed and bodies littered the streets.

Officials also said some people died while trying to steal fuel leaking from the tanker, but most were killed at home or watching world cup soccer in the cinemas.

It is not clear what caused the initial accident or blast but locals said the truck which was part of the convoy, stopped then the road seem to crumble, toppling the vehicles and spilling fuel before the fire then errupted.

“It is terrible scene, there are lots of dead bodies piling on the street. The people are in terrible shock, no one is crying or speaking,” Jean Claude Kibaka, South Kivu vuce governor said from Sange which is between the towns of Bakavu and Uvura.

Meanwhile the Congolese government is trying to coordinate with the United Nations (UN) to manage the situation and make plans on how to take the injured to hospital.

Congo’s weak Government has difficulties providing even most basic services due to civil war and neglect in the vast Central African Nation.