The explosion occurred in a gas pipe near the village of Marvouk at 3 a.m., while residents were asleep in their beds.
Virtually all the village houses were burnt as thick palls of black smoke could be seen rising over the devastated village. The specific numbers of casualties or deaths have not yet been confirmed.
The pipe which was used for fuel transfer to the north of the country had once already developed a crack last winter and fuel had poured into a nearby river.
Over the past four days officials had said that they planned to divert parts of the pipe beneath the riverbed.
