A backpack full of dynamite exploded at a market in the southeastern Peruvian city of Juliaca, killing six and wounding at least 50 people, police said on Saturday.

The explosion, which occurred at about 10 pm on Friday, tore through the outdoor market where some 1,000 people were celebrating the anniversary of its opening more than 40 years ago.

After preliminary investigations police suspect that the blast might have been caused by someone in the celebration who accidentally lit an unattended package of dynamite with a cigarette.

The wounded were rushed to local hospitals and the cause of the accident was still under investigation.

Source: Xinhua