UPDATE (August 30, 2016 at 5.10pm CST): The number of injured people has increased to five — two security guards and three local people working at the embassy — Xinhua reports.
One person has been killed and at least five people injured following a deadly explosion earlier today at the Chinese embassy in Kyrgyzstan, according to local media reports.
A Kyrgyz news website reported that the car rammed the embassy's gate before exploding, in an apparent suicide attack. The healthcare ministry reports that the driver was killed, while at least three people were wounded following the blast.
Independent Kyrgyz news agency AKIpress reported that security officials are describing the blast as a 'terrorist attack.' Eyewitnesses also told AKIpress that the car drove into the gate at full speed before the explosion was heard.
The vehicle reportedly exploded in the center of the compound, near the ambassador's residence. Both the Chinese and American embassies were evacuated following the incident.
Meanwhile images showing shattered glass and plumes of smoke have been circulating online.
The blast was apparently so powerful that it broke the glass doors of a nearby convenience store.
More updates on this developing story as we receive them.
[Images via @bci_, Xinhua, AKIpress, @RyskeldiSatke]
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