Powerful blast claims 55 lives in SW Pakistan
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Islamabad, Feb 16, IRNA -- At least 55 people were killed and more than 200 injured when a large explosion shook Quetta, the capital of south western Balochistan province on Saturday, police officials said.
"At least 55 people have been killed and at least 200 more wounded, the death toll may rise. It was a remote-controlled bomb," said Wazir Khan Nasir, a senior police officer in Quetta.
He said the dead included women and children.
The explosion occurred near a school at the busy Kirani road area of the city, located close to Hazara Town. The blast was so horrible and awful that windows of the nearby buildings were broken.
Rescue officials also confirmed at least 47 people were killed in the blast, and that the number of casualties was feared to rise. Officials said most of the dead were members of Hazara shia minority.
Emergency was imposed at all local hospitals.
A large contingent of security personnel, including police and FC forces, had cordoned off the area.
Hazara Town is dominated by the ethnic Hazaras, a large population of which belongs to the Shia community.
The Majlis-i-Wahdat-i-Muslimeen has called a strike on Sunday in protest of the blast.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the explosion but Quetta and Balochistan are frequently hit by bomb attacks.
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Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 80547232
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