Kabul, August 25 (RHC)-- At least 11 people including several children have been killed in a series of explosions at gas storage facility in the western Afghan city of Herat. Local authorities said on Tuesday that the explosions occurred in a relatively peaceful business hub, near the border with Iran, triggering a massive fire in a neighboring refugees’ settlement.

The fire from the explosions rapidly spread to the nearby refugee settlement where most of the deaths occurred.

A father who lost his nine-year-old daughter in the fire said most of the victims were trying to flee from the massive flames. "The explosions were powerful and sparked a huge fire," said the man, who had sought refuge in Herat after fleeing the neighboring restive province of Badghis in northwestern Afghanistan.

Safety standards are low across Afghanistan and explosions related to domestic gas cylinders are frequently sighted in the impoverished country.