At least 150 people died near the town of Maridi in South Sudan when a crashed oil tanker exploded as a crowd scooped up spilled fuel, reports said Friday.

Senior local official John Ezkia told South Sudan's Eye Radio that the initial death toll of more than 85 in Thursday's incident had risen to at least 150, after scores died of burns.

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