Officials have been burying the dead in mass graves following Friday's devastating explosion on Friday in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

At least 230 people have been killed when a fuel tanker overturned and exploded, unleashing a fire ball that tore through homes and cinemas packed with people watching the World Cup.

Witnesses described scenes of devastation in the town of Sange, where houses were burnt and bodies littered the streets.

Some people died while trying to steal fuel leaking from the tanker, but most were killed at home or watching World Cup football in cinemas.

Marcellin Cisambo, governor of South Kivu province, where the incident took place, said the blast occurred when the fuel truck overturned, leaked fuel and then later exploded.

It was not immediately clear what caused the initial accident or later blast, but local people said the truck, which was part of a convoy, stopped when the road seemed to crumble, toppling the vehicle and spilling fuel.