Six people were killed and five others injured in an explosion at a liquefied gas filling station in the Kashkadarya region of Uzbekistan on Monday, according to the country's Ministry of Emergency Situations.

The incident was reported at 1:50 p.m. in the Karshi district, according to the ministry, adding that the fire was extinguished at 2:55 p.m.

Preliminary assessments showed that the blast and subsequent fire damaged four vehicles and two underground fuel storage tanks. All the injured have been transported for emergency medical treatment.

Following the blast, a government commission was established to investigate the cause and oversee response measures.

xinhua