Seven children are among at least 11 people dead following a landmine explosion in southern Afghanistan.

Reuters news agency quoted local officials who said the victims were pilgrims on their way to a shrine honoring a relative of the Prophet Mohammad. 

Their vehicle set off the roadside blast in Kandahar province on Monday.

33 people were seriously injured in the explosion including 22 children.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the explosion.

According to the UN Mine Action Service, more than 1400 civilians were killed or injured last year by mines and other devices in Afghanistan.

The agency says that number has tripled since 2012.

The report added that children make up eighty percent of casualties from unexploded munitions like landmines.

NHK