(reuters) -- The television station flashed that an explosive laden car caused the blast in the Tashreen district of the city that lies in the mountainous heartland of President Bashar al Assad's minority Alawite sect. It cited casualties but gave no details.

The U.K.-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also reported an explosion in the city saying it was likely caused by a car blast and said there were several injuries, with some in critical condition.

(Photo: Latakia City, gabisworld)