QUETTA, Pakistan (AP) — A suicide attacker drove an explosives-packed vehicle into the vicinity of a railway line just as a passenger train was passing through the southwestern city of Quetta on Sunday, killing at least 19 people and injuring more than 70 others, authorities reported.

The powerful blast caused two train carriages to derail and burst into flames, with thick black smoke rising above the scene, as seen in videos posted online.

The bombing occurred in an area typically monitored by security personnel. The explosion inflicted heavy damage on nearby structures and destroyed more than a dozen vehicles parked along the roadside, according to witnesses and images shared on social platforms.

Medical officials at hospitals in Quetta confirmed they were treating dozens of injured victims, with at least 20 listed in critical condition. Three security officials, speaking anonymously to the Associated Press, said the deceased were transported to medical facilities after the attack.

The banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist organization seeking independence from Pakistan’s central government, claimed responsibility in a statement sent to journalists. The group asserted that the train was carrying members of the security forces.

Quetta serves as the capital of Balochistan province, a region long troubled by insurgent activity. Despite its wealth in oil and mineral resources, the province has experienced years of low-intensity conflict, with militants frequently targeting security forces, government sites and civilians both locally and in other parts of the country.

“We strongly condemn the targeting of innocent civilians and are deeply grieved by the loss of valuable human lives. Those responsible for terrorism must face justice without leniency,” said Shahid Rind, spokesperson for the Balochistan provincial government.

Rind added that a medical emergency was declared at Quetta’s hospitals immediately after the explosion and that authorities have opened an investigation into the incident.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also denounced the bombing, describing it as a “cowardly act of terrorism” in a statement on X, and expressed sympathy for the families of those who lost their lives.

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti likewise condemned the attack, stating that militants had targeted “innocent civilians, including women and children.” He pledged that authorities would pursue those responsible.

Bugti and federal officials in Islamabad often refer to the BLA as “Fitna al-Hindustan,” alleging that the group receives support from India, an accusation New Delhi has repeatedly rejected.

Relations between Pakistan and India have remained tense for decades. The two nations have fought two of their three wars over the disputed region of Kashmir, which both claim in full.

Although Pakistani officials maintain that the insurgency has been largely contained, incidents of violence in Balochistan continue to occur.

In 2024, at least 26 people, including members of the security forces, were killed when a suicide bomber attacked a railway station in Balochistan.