DAMASCUS, March 15 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from a powerful explosion in Syria's coastal city of Latakia rose to at least eight, including three women and a child, authorities reported Saturday, as rescue operations continued into the evening.

The blast occurred at a scrap-metal shop in the southern al-Raml al-Janoubi neighborhood, causing extensive damage to nearby residential buildings, according to the Syrian Civil Defense.

Rescue workers continued to search for victims feared trapped beneath the rubble, raising concerns that the casualty count could climb further.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitoring group, said the explosion was caused by an unexploded missile left from previous fightings in the area. The group reported a total of 15 casualties, including both fatalities and injuries.

Local sources told Xinhua that a building in the neighborhood collapsed due to the blast.

Syria's coastal region, including Latakia, has been through widespread violence since last week that has resulted in the death of at least 1,500 people.

According to Syria's defense authorities and the UN Human Rights Office, the violence was triggered by coordinated attacks by armed groups loyal to former President Bashar al-Assad on security forces in the Latakia province, and quickly escalated into broader sectarian clashes, predominantly targeting Alawite-majority towns and villages. Enditem

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