At least 10 passengers were killed when a minivan was hit by a landmine in southern Somalia on Friday.

The passengers included five women and four children, according to Deqow Abdinur Aden, an army commander in Jubaland State in southern Somalia.

Mr Aden said the passenger bus was heading to the southern port city of Kismayo when it was hit by the landmine.

“Three others were injured in the landmine blast carried out by militants.

“The injured ones are being treated at the hospital in Kismayo,’’ Mr Aden told local media.

He said that Jubaland State forces were fighting al-Shabab militants at the time of the landmine blast.

The commander added that several militants died while two soldiers sustained injuries during the operation in the north of Kismayo.

(Xinhua/NAN)