At least 18 dead, dozens more wounded in blast in northwest Syrian town - reports

At least 18 people were killed and dozens more were wounded on Tuesday in an explosion in the northwest Syrian town of al-Bab, which is under the control of Turkey-backed rebel factions, hospital sources told Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

A witness told Reuters the blast occurred when a large truck bomb went off in a crowded area in the town. Videos and images circulated by activists on social media showed large plumes of smoke rising from the blast site, along with several fires and damaged buildings.

The death toll is expected to rise as the explosion left over 75 persons injured, some seriously. In addition, there are unconfirmed reports of more casualties.

The videos and images circulated by activists showed several wounded people being carried away from the blast site, while firefighters tried to put out the fires.

A nurse in a local hospital told Reuters 11 people had been killed, but a doctor at a local hospital put the death toll at at least 21. The local administration said at least 118 were injured.

Several buildings were damaged in the blast and collapsed onto onlookers, two witnesses told Reuters. People were being pulled out of the rubble, they said.