Reuters file image used for representational purpose only.

BANDA ACEH: At least 10 people have been killed and dozens more injured after a fire at an illegal oil well in Indonesia's Aceh province, authorities said Wednesday.

An oil spill sparked a huge blaze about 1.30am (1830 GMT Tuesday) in a residential area that torched at least three houses and was still out of control mid-morning.

"The [fire] is still soaring high and has not yet successfully been extinguished," Saiful, head of Aceh's Ranto Peureulak subdistrict, said.

At least 10 bodies have been recovered and the death toll is expected to rise, police said, while injured victims were being treated at local hospitals.

Firefighters were at the scene, with state-owned oil company Pertamina assisting their efforts.

East Aceh is dotted with numerous small-scale oil mining operations, which are often operated illegally by local villagers.</s>At least 10 people have been killed and dozens more injured after a fire at an illegal oil well in Indonesia's Aceh province, authorities said Wednesday.

An oil spill sparked a huge blaze about 1.30am (1830 GMT Tuesday) in a residential area that torched at least three houses and was still out of control mid-morning.

"The [fire] is still soaring high and has not yet successfully been extinguished," Saiful, head of Aceh's Ranto Peureulak subdistrict, said.

At least 10 bodies have been recovered and the death toll is expected to rise, police said, while injured victims were being treated at local hospitals.

Firefighters were at the scene, with state-owned oil company Pertamina assisting their efforts.

East Aceh is dotted with numerous small-scale oil mining operations, which are often operated illegally by local villagers.</s>An oil well, which authorities say may be illegal, has caught fire in Ranto Peureulek causing fatalities and injuries.</s>AT least 10 people have been killed and dozens more injured after a fire at an illegal oil well in Indonesia’s Aceh province.

Authorities confirmed an oil spill sparked a huge blaze about 6.30pm local time (5.30am AEDT) that torched at least three houses and was still out of control mid-morning.

“The [fire] is still soaring high and has not yet successfully been extinguished,” Saiful, head of Aceh’s Ranto Peureulak subdistrict who goes by one name, said.

Aceh is a semi-autonomous Indonesian area on the northwest tip of Sumatra Island. It’s known for its beaches, diving sites and mountain wilderness areas.

It comes nearly a month after an oil spill at state-owned oil and gas firm Pertamina, in East Kalimantan, which spread across an area greater than the city of Paris and caused an out-of-control blaze that killed five fishermen.

Indonesian authorities declared a state of emergency after the spill, which has caused significant environmental and economic damage.

More to come.</s>JAKARTA, April 25 (Reuters) - Indonesia's disaster agency said on Wednesday that 10 people had been killed and an unknown number injured after a fire at an oil well in far western province of Aceh.

The disaster agency said in a statement that the fire may have been caused by pipe welding at the site.

The Antara state agency earlier said five people had been killed and dozens injured due to illegal drilling at the well. (Reporting by Kanupriya Kapoor Writing by Ed Davies Editing by Eric Meijer)
An oil well catches fire in Ranto Peureulak, East Aceh Regency, Indonesia, killing ten people.