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Deadly blast in Pakistani village Deadly blast in Pakistani village
(10 minutes later)
At least nine people have been killed and more than 50 injured after a blast hit a Pakistani village in the southern Punjab province. Nine people, including seven children, have died in a blast at a village in Pakistan's southern Punjab province, hospital officials say.
The explosion took place at a house used for teaching religious lessons to children, local officials said. At least 50 people were injured in the explosion at a house that was used for teaching religious lessons to children.
Some two dozen homes reportedly collapsed in the blast in the Mian Channu area of the Khanewal district.Some two dozen homes reportedly collapsed in the blast in the Mian Channu area of the Khanewal district.
Taliban influence has reportedly spread in Punjab recently, says the BBC's M Ilyas Khan, in Islamabad.Taliban influence has reportedly spread in Punjab recently, says the BBC's M Ilyas Khan, in Islamabad.
Punjab's main city, Lahore has been the target of deadly attacks in recent months, including one on the Sri Lankan cricket team. Punjab's main city, Lahore, has been the target of deadly attacks in recent months, including one on the Sri Lankan cricket team.
Huge crater
Pakistan's military is currently in the middle of operations in its north-west to clear the Swat Valley and South Waziristan regions of Taliban fighters.Pakistan's military is currently in the middle of operations in its north-west to clear the Swat Valley and South Waziristan regions of Taliban fighters.
The people of the village say they saw a flame rise to the sky and then the earth shook like in an earthquake Kamran KhanPolice officer Pakistan conflict map Who are the Taliban? The people of the village say they saw a flame rise to the sky and then the ground shook like in an earthquake Kamran KhanPolice officer Pakistan conflict map Who are the Taliban?
Naeem Sadiq, a hospital official, told AP news agency the dead were seven children, one woman and a man. District co-ordination officer Kamran Khan said that the blast went off in a teacher's house, where Koranic lessons for children were regularly held.
District coordination officer Kamran Khan said that the blast went off in a teacher's house, where Koranic lessons for children were regularly held.
Police believe there was probably an ammunition dump in the home.Police believe there was probably an ammunition dump in the home.
Mr Khan said: "The blast was heard over a vast area and from the extent of damage it has caused it looks like a large quantity of explosives was involved.Mr Khan said: "The blast was heard over a vast area and from the extent of damage it has caused it looks like a large quantity of explosives was involved.
"The people of the village say they saw a flame rise to the sky and then the earth shook like in an earthquake." "The people of the village say they saw a flame rise to the sky and then the ground shook like in an earthquake."
Naeem Sadiq, a hospital official, said the dead were seven children, one woman and a man.
Television footage showed police collecting evidence from a crater about 40ft (12 metres) wide and nearly 8ft (2.5 metres) deep.Television footage showed police collecting evidence from a crater about 40ft (12 metres) wide and nearly 8ft (2.5 metres) deep.
Small rockets and missiles propelled by shoulder-fired launchers were among the material recovered, said police.Small rockets and missiles propelled by shoulder-fired launchers were among the material recovered, said police.
Civil defence officials are scanning the area with metal detectors, witnesses say.Civil defence officials are scanning the area with metal detectors, witnesses say.