At least 15 people died in a powerful blast in the Syrian city of Homs on Sunday, Dec 2, RIA Novosti reported, citing Syria's state-run news agency SANA.

Another 24 people were injured, many critically, in the explosion, which caused extensive damage to nearby apartment buildings, the report said.

Anti-government rebel forces have been locked in a protracted civil war with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. The UN has estimated that nearly 40,000 have died since the fighting began in March 2011.