<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A powerful bomb has </span><a href="http://9news.com.au/explosions" rel="" target="" title="exploded"><span>exploded</span></a><span> near a railway track as a </span><a href="http://9news.com.au/train" rel="" target="" title="train"><span>train</span></a><span> carrying passengers passed through the south-western </span><a href="http://9news.com.au/pakistan" rel="" target="" title="Pakistani"><span>Pakistani</span></a><span> city of Quetta, killing more than a dozen people and wounding more than 70 others, officials say.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The force of the explosion on Sunday caused two of the train cars to overturn and catch fire, sending thick black smoke into the air, according to footage shared online.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The attack happened in an area where security forces are usually stationed, badly damaging several nearby buildings and smashing more than a dozen vehicles parked along the road, according to witnesses and images circulating on social media.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/irish-tradie-issues-warning-to-expats-in-australia-after-shock-diagnosis/f7a024d5-5d2f-4804-8304-dea095fcec8e"><strong><span>Tradie's urgent warning after shock diagnosis</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Doctors at local hospitals said they had received the wounded, with 20 in a critical condition. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Three security officials told The Associated Press at least 16 bodies were transported to hospitals following the attack. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to be able to speak to the media.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The outlawed Baloch Liberation Army, or BLA, which demands independence from Pakistan's central government, has claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement sent to reporters. The militant group said it targeted a train carrying security personnel.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/pakistan-train-explosion-powerful-bomb-explodes-near-railway-track-in-quetta/786a9ead-4940-4148-a46a-1757bba2ea62" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Quetta is the capital of insurgency-hit Balochistan province. The oil- and mineral-rich region has long been the scene of a low-level insurgency. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The insurgents have frequently targeted security forces, government installations and civilians in the province and elsewhere in the country.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We strongly condemn the targeting of innocent civilians and are deeply saddened by the loss of precious human lives. Terrorist elements deserve no leniency," said Shahid Rind, Balochistan provincial government spokesman.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/south-australia-drunk-driver-beach-crash/2f86e085-28a0-4ec4-b5b6-c0807d6cbfcf"><strong><span>'Drunk' driver ends up on beach in crazy crash</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/shark-attack-far-north-queensland/75262ddf-5eca-4112-a985-fc4b5296e554" rel="" target="" title=""><strong><span>Man killed in horror Queensland shark attack</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He said following the explosion, a medical emergency was declared at hospitals in Quetta, and an investigation has been launched.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Although Pakistani authorities say they have quelled the insurgency, violence in Baluchistan has persisted.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>At least 26 people, including soldiers, were killed in 2024 when a suicide bomber attacked a train station in Balochistan.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY: </span></strong></em><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><em><strong><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via </span></strong></em><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Apple</span></strong></em></a><em><strong><span> and </span></strong></em><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a><em></em></li><li><em><strong><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by </span></strong></em><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>ticking this box here</span></strong></em></a><em></em></li><li><em><strong><span>Sign up to </span></strong></em><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></strong></em></a><em></em></li></ul></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em></em></div></div>