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9 killed, 70 injured in eastern Pakistan blast

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-07-13 14:10

ISLAMABAD: A blast occurred Monday in an eastern Pakistani village, killing 9 people, including seven children, and injuring 70 others, local TV reported.

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About 100 houses have been completely destroyed in the explosion near Mian Channu, a city in eastern Pakistan's Punjab province, eyewitnesses said. Reports said about half of the village have been affected by the blast and many houses are caving- in, trapping more people inside.

Mian Channu is not far from the Punjab capital of Lahore, which has been a target of several militant attacks in recent months.

Reports said the blast occurred in the house of a school teacher and there was no sign of suicide attack.

The locals said the rescue team reached spot more than one hour late. TV reports said several bodies and about 50 injured have been brought to hospital. It said a child's body has been taken out of the debris and several people are still buried under debris of the collapsed houses.