President Armen Sarkissian has sent a letter of condolenses to his Mexican counterpart Andrés Manuel López Obrador after a pipeline explosion caused by an illegal tap left at least 85 people dead and many more injured in the country.

The Armenian leader wished endurance and patience to the families of those affected by the tragedy.

It is believed the explosion occurred after the line was ruptured by suspected fuel thieves in the town of Tlahuelilpan, in Hidalgo state.

Officials say scores of people had been scrambling to fill up containers and were engulfed in an inferno.