Agencies | Kohat:
least 15 people were killed and more than 50 others injured in a blast near a mosque in Kohat, Pakistan, on Friday, according to later reports from local authorities.
The explosion was reported in the vicinity of the old police lines, with local reports also placing the blast near a mosque. The incident triggered an immediate emergency response, with police personnel and rescue teams rushing to the affected area.
The injured were shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital, where an emergency was declared to treat the victims. Rescue teams continued operations at the site as authorities assessed the situation.
Following the explosion, security personnel cordoned off the area and additional police forces were deployed around the affected zone. The Kohat-Hangu Road was also closed to traffic as rescue and security operations continued.
Initial reports had put the number of casualties at 14 deaths, with several people injured. The toll was subsequently revised by local authorities, who reported that 15 people had died and over 50 were injured.
The exact nature and cause of the explosion were not immediately known. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the blast and establish its cause.
Further details are awaited as officials continue to assess the extent of the damage and investigate the incident.
