QALAT, Afghanistan, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- A car bomb Thursday struck Qalat city, the capital of southern Afghanistan's Zabul province, killing 15 people and wounding 66 others, Interior Ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi said.

According to Rahimi, the car bomb was detonated next to the civilian hospital in Qalat city at 5:50 a.m. local time, killing 15 people including two police personnel and 13 civilians, and wounding 66 others.

Women and children are also among the victims, the official added.

Earlier, provincial government spokesman Gul Islam Sayal confirmed the blast, adding seven people lost their lives and 86 others wounded.

Meanwhile, Taliban outfit has claimed responsibility for the blast and in contact with media contended that a suicide bomber targeted the provincial office of National Directorate of Security or the country's counter-intelligence agency, inflicting huge casualties.

The armed group which has stepped up activities mostly in the shape of suicide bombing has also claimed responsibility for the deadly bombings that claimed scores of lives in Kabul, Charikar and Jalalabad cities over the past one week.