Somali authorities say at least four people have been killed and 11 injured in an explosion near the southern coastal town of Kismayo. Separately, Somali officials say the US has launched airstrikes in central Somalia to support counter-terrorism operations.
A minibus carrying civilians targeted one of the bomb blasts in Blohaj village, on the outskirts of Kismayo, the administrative capital of Jubaland province in southern Somalia, causing multiple casualties.
A police officer in the port city of Kismayo, who spoke to VOA on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said the attack involved multiple mine explosions, killing at least four people. said he did.
More than 11 people were injured and taken to a hospital in Kismayo for treatment, he said.
A medical source told his VOA that some of the injured had life-threatening injuries.
A resident told his VOA that a rescue worker trying to reach the scene was injured in his second blast after the first blast hit a minibus.
Authorities have accused Al-Shabaab, an Islamist militant group linked to al-Qaeda, of carrying out the attacks, but no one has claimed responsibility.
Kismayo is a major port city located 500 kilometers south of Mogadishu.
Meanwhile, Somali officials said US forces had launched airstrikes in the central Hiran region at the request of the Somali federal government. There was no US confirmation.
Government officials said the strikes were carried out to protect the Somali National Army, which was conducting counter-terrorism operations in the area at the time.
According to a brief statement issued by Somali authorities, no civilians were injured in the incident and the United States continues to support its Somali partners.
