About 500 people are believed to have been killed in recent fighting in Sout Sudan, Africa’s newest country, officials in the country have said.

Another 800 persons wounded.

Information minister Michael Makuei Lueth told CNN that some bodies are still being found in forests and many of those who were wounded are dying in hospitals.

U.N. officials have expressed deep concern about the unrest, saying between 15,000 and 20,000 people have taken shelter in the organization’s compounds in the capital, Juba.

The spokesperson for the Uganda Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Fred Opolot said the government had closed its embassy on Wednesday in Juba, South Sudan amid clashes.

Opolot told Xinhua on the telephone that it was prudent to close its mission in Juba for the safety and security of the staff.

“At the height of the skirmishes, it was prudent that the mission be closed to ensure security and safety of the staff. As soon as the situation stabilises, our staff will return back to resume work at the mission,” he added.

He said that the move came barely a day after the U.S. closed its embassy in Juba and advised its citizens to immediately leave the country.

Opolot said that if the clashes between soldiers loyal to the sacked former Vice President Riek Machar and incumbent President Salva Kiir continued to escalate, the government would evacuate the embassy staff and citizens trapped in the fighting.

“At the moment our staff are still there helping us to monitor the situation, once the situation escalates then they will be evacuated,” he said.

The clashes in Juba started on Sunday following an alleged coup attempt by a group of soldiers who raided an armoury at the army’s main barracks in Juba.