Layal Horanieh, spokeswoman for the international Committee of the Red Cross in the South Sudanese capital of Juba, said the aid group has sent two burn kits to Maridi, each with enough equipment to treat at least 50 patients.

Eighty-five people were killed in the accidental explosion in Western Equatoria state on Wednesday, presidential spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny told The Associated Press.

Ateny said local hospitals were “overwhelmed” by casualties.

Such incidents have happened before in a region where fuel tankers often have to travel long distances along potholed roads and pass through poor communities.

The outbreak of the conflict was as a result of political fighting between President Salva Kiir and his former vice president, Riek Machar, which began in mid-December 2013.

The government and rebels signed a peace deal on August 29, but the ceasefire – the eighth agreed – has been repeatedly broken as fighting continues.

Mr Atenty said the incident was “an accident” and had nothing to do with the ongoing conflict.

In June 2013, at least 30 people were killed and scores more injured when a broken-down fuel tanker exploded on a highway in Uganda while they were trying to siphon fuel.