The pipeline maintained by state oil monopoly Pemex exploded just before 6 a.m. (1200 GMT) in San Martin Texmelucan, a small community in the state of Puebla about 50 miles (75 km) east of Mexico City.

“Several streets were flooded with fuel. With a spark, there was a river of fire,” said Valentin Meneses, interior minister of the state of Puebla.

The explosion killed 22 people and injured 32, Meneses said. It also destroyed 32 houses and damaged dozens more, he added.

Pemex said the incident was under control and that an illegal fuel tap was suspected as a possible cause.

The explosion occurred in a residential neighborhood which is not near major oil refining or transportation facilities, according to local media reports.

Photos and video from the scene showed charred vehicles, burned-out homes and scorched ground around the moderately populated outskirts of the town. A cloud of thick, black smoke was seen over the accident site just after dawn.