South Sudanese will mark three official days of mourning for victims of the Maridi oil tanker explosion, which killed close to 200 people, according to latest estimates.

The national government in Juba declared the official period of mourning after the government's weekly cabinet meeting yesterday. A member of cabinet told journalists that the mourning period would start from Friday.

“The government extends sincere condolences to the bereaved families and declared three days national mourning starting from today, 18th September 2015,” said the cabinet official.

The national flag is therefore to fly at half-staff during the days of mourning.