At least 24 people were killed and more than 50 injured after an explosion derailed a train in Quetta, the capital of Pakistan’s Balochistan province, on Sunday, officials said. A senior official told AFP the train was carrying military personnel and their family members. Another official said they were travelling to celebrate Eid, which begins Tuesday.

The blast occurred on a railway track as the train was heading toward the city’s cantonment area en route from Quetta to Peshawar. The derailment was followed by a major fire and heavy gunfire was reported at the scene. Images from the site showed carriages on their sides and people climbing over wreckage while rescue teams searched for survivors.

Authorities declared an emergency at several Quetta hospitals. Provincial special assistant Babar Yousafzai said security forces and rescue teams were quickly deployed as investigators worked to determine the cause of the explosion.

Local reporting attributed responsibility to the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA). The BLA reportedly said a subunit called Majeed Brigade carried out a “highly organised fidayee attack,” using the term fidayee to refer to a suicide attack. The Balochistan Post reported a higher toll of about 30 dead and 70 wounded.

Balochistan, a resource-rich province and a key segment of the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor, has long seen insurgent violence. Separatist groups say the central government and external projects have exploited the province’s resources without adequately benefiting local communities, and attacks on security targets have periodically increased tensions in the region.

Officials have not released a full casualty list or a final cause of the explosion as investigations continue.

At least 24 people were killed and more than 50 injured after an explosion derailed a train in Quetta, the capital of Pakistan’s Balochistan province, on Sunday, officials said. A senior official told AFP the service was carrying military personnel and their family members when the blast occurred.

The train was on a route from Quetta to Peshawar and had been heading toward the city’s cantonment area, local media reported. Another official said many of those on board were travelling to celebrate Eid, which begins on Tuesday.

The explosion derailed cars and triggered a major fire. Heavy gunfire was reported at the scene, and hospitals in Quetta declared emergencies as rescue teams and security forces moved in. Images from the site showed overturned carriages and people climbing over wreckage searching for survivors.

Babar Yousafzai, a special assistant in the provincial home department, said authorities and rescuers were deployed quickly and were working to establish the cause of the blast. Different outlets gave varying casualty totals: the Balochistan Post quoted around 30 dead and 70 wounded.

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack, saying a subunit known as Majeed Beigade carried out what the group described as a “highly organised fidayee attack.” Fidayee is a term often used to describe suicide operations.

Balochistan, a resource-rich but economically underdeveloped province, is strategically important as part of the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor. The region has long seen an insurgency by separatist groups who say the federal government and outside interests have exploited local resources without delivering benefits to the population.

Authorities said investigations were under way to confirm how the blast was set and to identify those responsible. Hospitals continued treating the injured and security forces secured the area as officials prepared a fuller assessment of casualties and damage.