Quetta, Pakistan (BBN) – A bomb targeting Shia Hazaras in a busy market in Pakistan’s restive southwest killed 79 people including women and children and 170 others injured, officials said.

DIG Wazir Khan Nasir reportedly said that all the dead belonged to Hazara community and the death toll might rise.

A large number of women and children are among the victims of the mega blast that hit Qutta on Saturday.

Earlier CCPO Quetta said 63 people were killed and 180 others injured in the blast, however the toll ticked up to 79 later.

He said the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) the terrorists planted in a watertank was armed with around 800-1000 kilograms of high-grade detonable material.

The officer said an official day of mourning would be observed over the incident in Balochistan on Sunday.

According to reports the explosion demolished several markets in the area.

More casualties were feared as many of the injured were in critical condition.

Adjacent areas reverberated with intense firing following the blast while heavy contingent of police and Frontier Corps (FC) rushed to the spot and cordoned off the area. They were not allowing people including media men to reach the spot.

Quoting rescue sources, Geo news reported that plumes of smoke were seen shortly after the huge blast. Many vehicles were also damaged due to the blast. Enraged people took to the streets and protested the blast, pelting vehciles with stones and blocking roads. Most of the people were busy in shopping as the blast hit market.

Various religious and political parties have announced to mark day of mourning over the tragic incident.

BBN/SSR/AD-17Feb13-10:38 am (BST)