20100705
africanews

Victims of last week's fuel tanker explosion in the Democratic Republic of Congo have reportedly been buried in mass graves. At least 230 people were killed after the truck overturned and later burst into flames in the remote village of Sange, near the DRC's border with Burundi.

A local official, Jean-Claude Kibala Nkolde, is quoted as saying authorities chose mass graves because most of the bodies were burnt beyond recognition, and to keep the bodies from decomposing in the heat.

Many of those killed had been trying to siphon fuel leaking from the truck, while others were gathered at nearby television halls to watch the World Cup.

The Red Cross is also quoted as saying at least 61 children and 36 women were among the dead.

Officials have yet to confirm what caused the truck to overturn, or to say why it exploded.

The driver of the truck was reportedly injured but managed to escape before the tanker blew up.