ATH, July 30: At least 15 people were killed and 200 injured when a huge explosion tore through a cross-border gas pipeline near an industrial zone in southern Belgium on Friday, the Health Ministry said.

The blast sent balls of fire leaping dozens of metres into the sky and threw bodies hundreds of metres from the disaster site near the town of Ath, 40 kms southwest of Brussels.

Health ministry spokesman Karim Ibourki said the death toll could rise still further. "The latest information that I have is that there are 14 people dead, and 200 wounded, of which 100 are burnt. -Reuters