Death toll rises to 23 in suicide blast in NW Pakistan
A boy injured during the suicide blast in Kohat receives medical treatment at a local hospital in northwest Pakistan's Peshawar on Sept. 7, 2010. At least 23 people were killed and over 80 others injured as a massive suicide bomb blast ripped through a police residential area Tuesday night in the city of Kohat in Pakistan's northwest province of Khyber Pakhtunkwa. (Xinhua Photo/Umar Qayyum)
ISLAMABAD, Sept. 7 (Xinhua) --
The Tuesday night suicide bomb blast killed 23 people, injured over 80 others and destroyed at least 25 living quarters in a police residential area in the city of Kohat in Pakistan's northwest province of Khyber Pakhtunkwa.
Dozens of people are reportedly trapped under the rubble of the damaged buildings after an estimated 400 kilograms of explosives were detonated, said local police officers.
According to Xinhua reporter and the local media reports, an unidentified suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden rickshaw at one of the buildings inside a police residential area, causing huge damage to many buildings including a nearby local TV station.
Police have cordoned off the blast area and rescue team has arrived at the scene shortly after the blast, said an eyewitness.
All the injured people are police and their family members including many women and kids, hospital sources said adding at least five of the injured are in critical condition.
No group has claimed responsibility for the blast yet.
This is the fourth deadly suicide bomb blast in Pakistan this month.
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