Blast kills nine in Pakistan (Second Lead)

A huge blast ripped through Pakistan's eastern Punjab province Monday, killing at least nine people and wounding dozens more, police and medical officers said.

The explosion hit a village on the outskirts of the Mian Channu town, located around 250 km south-west of the provincial capital Lahore.

"Nine people have died and at least 60 others injured," said Naeem Sadiq, administrative head of the government hospital that received most of the victims. Seven of those killed were children.

Sadiq feared the death toll could increase as several of the injured were in serious condition.

According to police, the blast occurred in a house where children were taught Koranic lessons.

"Preliminary reports suggest that the explosion was caused by explosives stacked inside the house," said Kamran Khan, a police official.

The high-intensity blast left an eight-foot deep crater, and completely destroyed more than two dozens adjoining houses.

Television footage showed a battery of rescuers searching through the rubble for survivors. Authorities said people could still be trapped under the debris.

Bomb disposal experts were also seen removing what appeared to be grenade launchers from the site, which was littered with collapsed structures and mingled metal frames, including electricity poles and the axle of a truck.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility by any group.

Punjab, the country's richest and most-populous province, has been recently hit by a string of attacks attributed to militant groups which have developed links with the Taliban fighters in the north-western region near the Afghan border.

The Taliban have also warned the government of terrorist strikes across the country in revenge for ongoing counterinsurgency operations.

Last updated on Jul 13^th, 2009 at 15:48 pm IST--DPA