At least 35 people were killed and more than 150 injured after an explosion rocked a Sinopec-operated oil pipeline in China on Friday.

The blast occurred at a port in the eastern city of Qingdao as the pipeline was being repaired, state media reported.

Leaked oil from the pipeline is thought to have ignited, causing the explosion. The resultant fire was extinguished at around 1pm local time.

Operations at the Qingdao port oil terminal are reported to have been halted as a result.

The original estimate of 22 dead was soon revised to 35 with reports saying 166 have been injured.

An investigation into the cause of the incident is ongoing.