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People carry an injured man from the blast site near Sidarat Square in Kabul, Afghanistan, Jan. 27, 2018. The death toll of a massive car bombing in Kabul on Saturday climbed to 40 with 140 others wounded, health official Wahid Majroh told Xinhua. (Xinhua/Rahmat Alizadah)

KABUL, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from a massive car bomb blast in Kabul on Saturday climbed to 40, with 140 others wounded, a spokesman for the public health ministry said.

The latest information showed more than 180 people were affected by the incident but the final figures would be shared with the media later in the day, spokesman Whahid Majroh told Xinhua.

Taliban militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The blast occurred roughly at 12:50 p.m. local time (0820 GMT) near the Jamhoriat Hospital, where several government offices are located.

The assailant had used an ambulance to reach the area, which is closed for public vehicles.

Afghan security forces sealed off the scene shortly after the deadly explosion, while ambulances and civilian cars evacuated the victims to the city's hospitals.

The old building of the Afghan Interior Ministry is also located at the crowded area.

Shops, several buildings including Jamhoriat Hospital building and many cars were severely damaged in the blast.