Death toll rises to 13 in Turkey-Syria blast

Turkish Interior Minister Muammer Guler said that death toll rose to 13 following the blast which occurred in Cilvegozu border gate in Turkey's southern Hatay province on February 11.

Guler told reporters that three of the victims were Turkish citizens and 10 were Syrians, adding that 27 others were wounded, and nine of them were Turks.

Meanwhile, Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin, Customs & Trade Minister Hayati Yazici and Interior Minister Guler left for Hatay to survey the blast scene.

Guler said that 19-20 vehicles were damaged due to the blast, adding that the blast occurred in a vehicle which came from Syrian side.

He noted that a strong explosive was used in the blast.

Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said the government was investigating all possible causes for the blast, including a suicide attack, but it was wrong to jump to hasty conclusions.

«The information that we have for now is that a minibus with Syrian number plates coming form the other side exploded. It was a powerful explosion,» Arinc, who is also the government spokesman, told reporters after a regular cabinet meeting.

«But whether this was a vehicle laden with explosives or another type of explosion, I think, at the latest, will become clear tomorrow,» he said.

Adapted from Worldbulletin