An explosion at a leaking oil pipeline has killed at least 21 people and injured 71 in central Mexico. Local residents were scrambling to steal some of the leaking oil when they were engulfed in flames, said Hidalgo state governor Omar Fayad.

Dozens of people have been taken to hospitals with burns, reports BBC.

Television footage showed flames leaping into the night sky in the town of Tlahuelilpan, near the Tula oil refinery on Friday.

Mr Fayad later flew in a helicopter over the disaster area and promised to help residents, BBC reported.