At least nine civilians were killed and 18 others wounded in an explosion in Kandahar Province on Monday afternoon, the provincial governor Hayatullah Hayat said. 

Hayat told TOLOnews that the explosion happened at around 2 pm Kabul time in Darzab area in Khakrez district of the province. 

He said the roadside bomb hit a truck which was carrying civilians. 

Eyewitnesses said some women were also among the victims. 

Hayat said that those wounded in the explosion were taken to Mirwais Hospital in the province. 

Hayat claimed that the Taliban is behind the incident.

Taliban has not commented on the report.

This comes after a sharp rise in civilian casualties in the ongoing violence in the country. Recently attacks claimed by the Taliban in Kabul, Ghazni and Badghis provinces left dozens of civilians dead many others wounded.