Authorities said a small truck blew up near an outer gate to the Aden international airport, close to a security checkpoint, killing at least 12 civilians.

Yemeni officials said the nature and cause of the blast is not immediately clear, while a local security source claimed the vehicle was carrying petroleum and other inflammable products that could have triggered the explosion.

The deadly explosion has been reported in the southern port city of Aden, three weeks after a blast targeting the convoy of a local governor, who had survived the attack, had left at least four people dead.