Authorities in Indonesia said the death toll from an illegal oil well blaze in Indonesia has jumped to 15 with dozens injured, warning that there could be more victims of the explosion.

Images from the accident showed a towering flame shooting some 70 metres (230 feet) in the air above homes and palm trees dotting a small community in Sumatra island’s Aceh province.

Firefighters were still battling the blaze sparked by an oil spill at about 1:30 am (1830 GMT Tuesday) in a residential area. Several homes were also destroyed.

Authorities initially said at least 10 people died and some 40 “severely injured” victims were being treated.

The jump in the death toll was from the subsequent deaths of five victims who had been rushed to hospital, authorities said.

The victims were collecting oil from around the entrance of a wellbore when the blaze erupted, police said.

It was not known how much oil was spilled or what ignited the fire, but authorities suggested a lit cigarette as a possible cause.