At least 16 people have been killed in southern Afghanistan when security forces tried to dispose of a container full of explosives in the city of Kandahar, officials said.

Nematullah Barak, head of Mirwais hospital in Kandahar, said the latest figures "show 16 dead and 38 wounded people brought to the hospital".

"We still have two ambulances at the site because there might be more people under the rubble," he told AFP news agency.

Daud Ahmadi, spokesman for the provincial governor, confirmed the death toll and said four security forces were among those killed.

At least five small children were wounded in the explosion, he said.

Dozens of shops and nearby homes were destroyed or damaged, and the death toll could rise, he said.

Abdul Saleh, 29, who was wounded in the blast, said the sound was "so loud, like strong thunder".

He told The Associated Press that he was knocked unconscious and later woke up in a hospital bed.

There was some confusion about the cause of the explosion, which sent a huge cloud of dust and smoke into the air.

Officials initially said it was caused by a bomb packed into a minibus but later said the explosives were in two containers stored in an area of mechanics workshops.

No group immediately claimed responsibility.

The blast was quickly condemned by President Ashraf Ghani, who praised the "brave" officers who dealt with it.

Elsewhere in Afghanistan, the Taliban launched a wave of attacks late on Monday in the eastern Ghazni province, killing at least 14 police, including a district police chief and a reserve unit's commander, according to provincial council member Hassan Reza Yusoufi.

Hundreds of people have been killed in high-profile attacks carried out by the Taliban and Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group since the beginning of this year.

At least 11 Afghan schoolchildren were killed in Kandahar province last month when a suicide car bomber hit a convoy of Romanian troops patrolling the area as part of the US-led NATO forces.

In one of the deadliest attacks, at least 29 people, including nine journalists, were killed after two explosions claimed by the ISIL hit the capital, Kabul, last month.

An increase in attacks has been observed ahead of the long-delayed parliamentary and district council elections scheduled for October 20.</s>At least 16 people were killed and 38 wounded when a vehicle packed with explosives detonated in southern Kandahar province of Afghanistan on Tuesday, authorities said. Security forces were trying to defuse an explosives-laden van in the southern Kandahar province at the time of the blast. The casualties were high despite the area around a bus station where the van was parked had been cleared.

Provisional governor spokesman Daud Ahmadi, confirming the toll, said that the dead included four security forces personnel. At least five children and 10 members of the security forces were among the wounded. No group has immediately claimed responsibility.

For all the latest World News, download Indian Express App</s>KANDAHAR: At least 16 people were killed and 38 wounded today when a minivan packed with explosives detonated as security forces were trying to defuse it in southern Afghanistan, officials said.

Security forces in Kandahar had already cleared the area around a bus station where the van was found, provincial governor spokesman Daud Ahmadi said.

"As the security forces were trying to defuse the van, it detonated," said police spokesman Mohammad Qasim Azad.

"The latest figures show 16 dead and 38 wounded people brought to the hospital. We still have two ambulances at the site because there might be more people under the rubble," Dr Nehmat Barak, chief of the Mirwais Hospital in Kandahar, said.

Ahmadi confirmed the toll, adding that the dead included four security forces personnel.

At least five children and 10 members of the security forces were among the wounded.

The blast was so powerful that the majority of the casualties were passers-by outside the cleared area.

Ahmadi said security forces also found a large container of explosives, rocket-propelled grenades, suicide vests, and ammunition near the site.

The terrorists planned to conduct a big attack at end of Ramadan in the city among crowds of people as they went out shopping for Eid. Security forces prevented a disaster from happening," one security official told AFP.

The blast comes as the Taliban step up their spring offensive across the war-torn country.

Last week the insurgent group attacked western Farah city, but were repelled by commandos backed by the Afghan and US Air Force.

Yesterday, the Taliban warned Kabul residents to avoid "military centres" in the heavily fortified city, saying they are planning more attacks in the Afghan capital.

A US government watchdog also warned yesterday that upbeat assessments of improving security in the country did not match facts on the ground.

The Pentagon's Office of the Inspector General said there were "few signs of progress" in the fight against the Taliban.

Top US officials and military commanders insist the Afghan security forces -- which have suffered thousands of casualties and are beset with low morale and corruption -- are now doing a better job of maintaining order.

But the Taliban still control swathes of the country and are staging repeated attacks, while the Islamic State group has conducted a series of high-profile suicide blasts in Kabul and elsewhere.</s>Sixteen people were killed in Afghanistan’s Kandahar city on Tuesday when a vehicle packed with explosives was detonated before those could be defused, reported TOLO News. Among those killed, four were security forces personnel.

Daud Ahmadi, the spokesperson for the governor of Kandahar province, said 38 people, including five children and six members of the security forces, were injured in the explosion, reported AP.

The police and intelligence officers had cleared the area around a bus station where the van was found, said Ahmadi, according to AFP. “As the security forces were trying to defuse the [explosives in the] van, it detonated,” said police spokesperson Mohammad Qasim Azad.

Ahmadi said security forces also found a large container of explosives, rocket-propelled grenades, suicide vests and ammunition near the site. An unidentified security official told AFP that the “terrorists planned to conduct a big attack” in Kandahar at the end of Ramzan.

President Ashraf Ghani praised the bravery of the intelligence and security forces for attempting to foil the bombing.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet. On Monday, 14 police personnel were killed after the Taliban attacked security forces in eastern Afghanistan’s Ghazni province.</s>At least 16 Killed, 38 Wounded in Kandahar Explosion

A vehicle, packed with explosives detonated in the capital of southern Kandahar province on Tuesday, sources confirmed.

The explosion took place on Tuesday afternoon at around 12:30 pm in Kandahar City’s PD4.

The provincial governor Tooryalai Wesa said that at least 16 people were killed and 38 others wounded in the explosion.

According to Wesa, the death toll is expected to rise.

Sources told Ariana News that the explosives were detonated before they could be defused by the security forces.

Initial reports indicate, about 30 people were killed or injured in the incident.

No group including the Taliban or Danish immediately claimed responsibility for the incident.</s>At least 16 people were killed and another 38 wounded Tuesday when a container full of explosives blew up even as security forces were trying to defuse it in the southern Afghan province of Kandahar, an official source told EFE.

The explosion occurred around 12 noon local time at a car repair shop in Kandahar, capital of the province with the same name, and caused significant material damage, according to provincial governor spokesperson Dawood Ahmadi.</s>KANDAHAR: According to the information given by the officials, minimum of 16 people were killed and 38 wounded when a minivan stuffed with explosives detonated as security forces were trying to defuse it in southern Afghanistan. Security forces in Kandahar had already cleared the area around a bus station where the van was found, provincial governor spokesman Daud Ahmadi said. “As the security forces were trying to defuse the van, it detonated,” said police spokesman Mohammad Qasim Azad. The blast…

KANDAHAR: According to the information given by the officials, minimum of 16 people were killed and 38 wounded when a minivan stuffed with explosives detonated as security forces were trying to defuse it in southern Afghanistan.

Security forces in Kandahar had already cleared the area around a bus station where the van was found, provincial governor spokesman Daud Ahmadi said.

“As the security forces were trying to defuse the van, it detonated,” said police spokesman Mohammad Qasim Azad.

The blast was so powerful that the majority of the wounded were civilian passers-by outside the cleared area. Ahmadi said security forces also found a large container of explosives, rocket-propelled grenades, suicide vests, and ammunition near the site.

“The terrorists planned to conduct a big attack at end of Ramadan in the city among crowds of people as they went out shopping for Eid… security forces prevented a disaster from happening,” one security official told media.</s>KANDAHAR: At least 16 people were killed and 38 wounded Tuesday when a minivan packed with explosives exploded as members of the security forces were trying to defuse it in southern Afghanistan, officials said.

Police and intelligence officers in the city of Kandahar had already cleared the area around a bus station where the van was found, said the provincial governor’s spokesman Daud Ahmadi. “As the security forces were trying to defuse the van, it detonated,” said police spokesman Mohammad Qasim Azad.

“The latest figures show 16 dead and 38 wounded people brought to the hospital. We still have two ambulances at the site because there might be more people under the rubble,” said Dr Nehmat Barak, chief of the Mirwais Hospital in Kandahar.

Ahmadi confirmed the toll, adding that the dead included four members of the security forces. At least five children and 10 members of the security forces were among the wounded. The blast was so powerful that most of the casualties were passers-by outside the cleared area. “When I was going to my shop the area was closed by the security forces,” one witness who did not give his name told AFP.

“I was waiting for the way to be opened when a big explosion happened and I escaped from the area. My co-workers who were already in the shop have disappeared and I have no news about what happened to them.”

Another witness said he was inside his shop when the explosives detonated. “I found myself among smoke and bloodstains and saw my hand broken,” he said. Ahmadi said security forces also found a large container of explosives, rocket-propelled grenades, suicide vests and ammunition near the site.

“The terrorists planned to conduct a big attack at the end of Ramazan in the city among crowds of people as they went out shopping for Eid... security forces prevented a disaster from happening,” one security official told AFP.

No group immediately claimed responsibility. The blast was quickly condemned by President Ashraf Ghani, who praised the “brave” officers who dealt with it.The Taliban are stepping up their spring offensive across the war-torn country.

Late Monday the insurgents attacked two districts in the southeastern province of Ghazni, briefly capturing the police headquarters in one of them before being pushed back, said governor’s spokesman Aref Noori.</s>Security forces in Kandahar had already cleared the area around a bus station where the van was found, provincial governor spokesman Daud Ahmadi said



The blast was so powerful that the majority of the casualties were passers-by outside the cleared area. Pic/AFP

At least 16 people were killed and 38 wounded today when a minivan packed with explosives detonated as security forces were trying to defuse it in southern Afghanistan, officials said.

Security forces in Kandahar had already cleared the area around a bus station where the van was found, provincial governor spokesman Daud Ahmadi said. "As the security forces were trying to defuse the van, it detonated," said police spokesman Mohammad Qasim Azad. "The latest figures show 16 dead and 38 wounded people brought to the hospital. We still have two ambulances at the site because there might be more people under the rubble," Dr Nehmat Barak, chief of the Mirwais Hospital in Kandahar, said.

Ahmadi confirmed the toll, adding that the dead included four security forces personnel. At least five children and 10 members of the security forces were among the wounded.

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This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever</s>KANDAHAR: At least 20 people were killed and 38 wounded Tuesday when a minivan packed with explosives exploded as members of the security forces were trying to defuse it in southern Afghanistan, officials said.

Police and intelligence officers in the city of Kandahar had already cleared the area around a bus station where the van was found, said the provincial governor´s spokesman Daud Ahmadi.

"As the security forces were trying to defuse the van, it detonated," said police spokesman Mohammad Qasim Azad. "The latest figures show 20 dead and 38 wounded people brought to the hospital. We still have two ambulances at the site because there might be more people under the rubble," said Dr Nehmat Barak, chief of the Mirwais Hospital in Kandahar.

Ahmadi confirmed the toll, adding that the dead included four members of the security forces. At least five children and 10 members of the security forces were among the wounded.

The blast was so powerful that most of the casualties were passers-by outside the cleared area. "When I was going to my shop the area was closed by the security forces," one witness who did not give his name said. "I was waiting for the way to be opened when a big explosion happened and I escaped from the area. My co-workers who were already in the shop have disappeared and I have no news about what happened to them."

Another witness said he was inside his shop when the explosives detonated. "I found myself among smoke and bloodstains and saw my hand broken," he said.

Ahmadi said security forces also found a large container of explosives, rocket-propelled grenades, suicide vests and ammunition near the site. "The terrorists planned to conduct a big attack at the end of Ramazan in the city among crowds of people as they went out shopping for Eid... security forces prevented a disaster from happening," one security official said.

No group immediately claimed responsibility. The blast was quickly condemned by President Ashraf Ghani, who praised the "brave" officers who dealt with it.

The Taliban are stepping up their spring offensive across the war-torn country.

Late Monday the insurgents attacked two districts in the southeastern province of Ghazni, briefly capturing the police headquarters in one of them before being pushed back, said governor´s spokesman Arif Noori.

On Monday the Taliban warned Kabul residents to avoid "military centres" in the heavily fortified city, saying they are planning more attacks there.

The Pentagon´s Office of the Inspector General said there were "few signs of progress" in the fight against the Taliban.

Top US officials and military commanders insist that Afghan police and troops -- who have suffered thousands of casualties and are beset by low morale and corruption -- are now doing a better job.

But the Taliban still control swathes of the country and are staging repeated attacks, while the Islamic State group has conducted a series of high-profile suicide blasts in Kabul and elsewhere.
At least 16 people are killed and 38 wounded in Kandahar, Afghanistan, by the accidental detonation of a container of explosives while security forces were attempting to dispose of it.