The bomb hit late Thursday night in a Shiite Muslim neighborhood in Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan province, police officer Mohammad Murtaza said. More than 80 people were killed.

It was one of the worst single attacks ever on Shiite Muslims, who account for about 20 percent of Pakistan's population.

After the first bomb exploded, police, media workers and rescue teams rushed to the site. Ten minutes later, another bomb went off. Both attacks appear to have been carried out by suicide bombers.

Pakistan's SAMAA TV channel announced that one of its cameramen was killed by the second bomb after he went to cover the first explosion.

Murtaza said many people were killed when the second bomb caused the building to collapse.

Police said the bombings disrupted power, plunging the area into darkness. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

Separate blast kills 11

Earlier in the day, a bomb went off at a market in Quetta (pictured above). The explosion left 11 people dead.

The local militant group the United Baloch Army claimed responsibility for the bombing, which wounded at least 27 people. The United Baloch Army is one of several groups fighting for independence in the province of 8 million, which constitutes just under half of Pakistan's territory.

dr, ccp/jr (AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters)

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