At least 30 people were killed and 39 others injured Tuesday when the passenger bus in which they were travelling struck a landmine in southern Afghan province of Kandahar, the interior ministry said in a statement.
"In the tragic incident, occurred in Maiwand district, 30 civilians including 10 children, seven women and 13 men were killed and 39 others sustained injuries," the statement said.
The officials blamed the Taliban militants for planting the mine on the highway and added that the bus was on its way from Herat, in western Afghanistan, to Kabul.
An earlier report put the numbers as 12 dead and 15 injured.
A UN report has described 2009 as the deadliest year in terms of civilian casualties in Afghanistan ever since the commencement of US-led war against Taliban and Al Qaeda militants in the country.
Over 1,500 civilians have been killed in insurgency related violence in Afghanistan this year.