An explosion killed at least nine people including seven children in a small village in eastern Pakistan on Monday. Fifty others were wounded, many in critical condition.

The explosion took place in the Mian Channu area in the east of Punjab province. Dozens of houses collapsed in the explosion, crushing people to death.

Officials say remnants of explosives were found at the scene, suggesting they had been stored there and could have gone off accidentally. But others reported a car, possibly driven by a suicide bomber, had rammed into a house. No group has claimed responsibility.

(CCTV July 14, 2009)